College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California

85 Ranked Colleges
$32,500 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Journalism is the 69th most popular major in the country with 12,911 degrees awarded in 2021-2022. In , journalism graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $32,980 and had an average of $23,933 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 1,546 journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,623 and $21,997 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California” ranking looked at 85 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in journalism. That schools that top this list have a program in journalism in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Journalism Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Journalism Rankings Other Ranking Categories

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Journalism in California

1
SDSU crest
San Diego State University
San Diego, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Diego State University. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California. SDSU is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 145 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full San Diego State University Journalism Report

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Northridge. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California list. California State University - Northridge is a large school located in Northridge, California that handed out 133 ’s journalism degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full CSUN Journalism Report

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fresno. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California list. Fresno, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 95 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Journalism at Fresno State

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a large school located in San Luis Obispo, California that handed out 58 ’s journalism degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Journalism at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

5
Biola crest
Biola University
La Mirada, California

Out of the 85 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Biola University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in La Mirada, California, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 23 diplomas to qualified ’s journalism students in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Journalism at Biola

6
Chapman crest
Chapman University
Orange, California

Chapman University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California ranking. Chapman is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Orange, California. It awarded 25 ’s journalism degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Chapman Journalism Report

7

California State University - Chico came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California ranking. This fairly large school is located in Chico, California, and it awarded 44 ’s journalism degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Journalism at Chico State

8

California State University - Long Beach came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California ranking. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 85 ’s journalism degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Journalism at CSULB

9
Loyola Marymount crest
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, California

With a ranking of #9, Loyola Marymount University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California list. This fairly large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 33 ’s journalism degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Journalism at Loyola Marymount University

10
Humboldt State University crest
Humboldt State University
Arcata, California

Humboldt State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California ranking. Arcata, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 21 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Humboldt State University Journalism Report

11
SFSU crest
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California ranking, coming in at #11. San Francisco State University is a large public school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 42 ’s journalism degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full San Francisco State University Journalism Report

12
Academy of Art University crest
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, California

Academy of Art University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California ranking, coming in at #12. Academy of Art University is located in San Francisco, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 6 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Journalism at Academy of Art University

13
De Anza College crest
De Anza College
Cupertino, California

De Anza College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California ranking. De Anza College is located in Cupertino, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 6 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full De Anza College Journalism Report

14
Fullerton College crest
Fullerton College
Fullerton, California

With a ranking of #14, Fullerton College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California list. Located in Fullerton, California, this fairly large public school handed out 16 diplomas to qualified ’s journalism students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Journalism at Fullerton College

15
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California ranking. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 180 degrees to qualified ’s journalism students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Journalism at University of Southern California

16
MSMU crest
Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, California

Mount Saint Mary’s University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California ranking. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 2 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Journalism at MSMU

17
Cosumnes River crest
Cosumnes River College
Sacramento, California

Cosumnes River College ranked #17 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California list. Sacramento, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 6 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Journalism at Cosumnes River

18
GCC crest
Glendale Community College
Glendale, California

Glendale Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California list. Glendale, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 5 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Glendale Community College Journalism Report

19
PLNU crest
Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, California

Point Loma Nazarene University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California ranking. PLNU is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full PLNU Journalism Report

20
Las Positas College crest
Las Positas College
Livermore, California

Las Positas College ranked #20 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California list. This medium-sized school is located in Livermore, California, and it awarded 4 ’s journalism degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Journalism at Las Positas College

21
San Jose State crest
San Jose State University
San Jose, California

San Jose State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California ranking, coming in at #21. San Jose State University is located in San Jose, California and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 27 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Full San Jose State University Journalism Report

22

California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California ranking, coming in at #22. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 43 ’s journalism degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Journalism at Sac State

23

California State University - Dominguez Hills ranked #23 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California list. Located in Carson, California, this fairly large public school awarded 28 degrees to qualified ’s journalism students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Journalism at California State University - Dominguez Hills

24
Fresno City College crest
Fresno City College
Fresno, California

Fresno City College ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California list. This large school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 9 ’s journalism degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Journalism at Fresno City College

25

The University of Arizona Global Campus landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Journalism Major in California ranking. The University of Arizona Global Campus is a private for-profit institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 59 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Journalism at The University of Arizona Global Campus

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options