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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Journalism (Income $0-$30k) in California

24 Ranked Colleges
922 Degrees Awarded
$24,700 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master's in California For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 121,387 people earned their degree in communication and journalism, making the major the 11th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, communication and journalism graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $32,549 and had an average of $24,893 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 18,646 communication and journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,210 and $21,875 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 922 communication and journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 24 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in communication and journalism. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great communication and journalism programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the communication and journalism program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 24 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Journalism (Income $0-$30k) in California

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stanford University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. This fairly large school is located in Stanford, California, and it awarded 28 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #2. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011.

Full Stanford Communication & Journalism Report

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Berkeley. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Berkeley, California, this large public school handed out 58 diplomas to qualified masters’s communication and journalism students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Berkeley, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at UC Berkeley

#12 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Los Angeles. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. California State University - Los Angeles is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 16 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA also took the #12 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at California State University - Los Angeles

#10 in overall quality

Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fullerton landed the #4 spot on the list. Cal State Fullerton is a large public school situated in Fullerton, California. It awarded 38 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Cal State Fullerton

#18 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fresno. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. California State University - Fresno is a large public school situated in Fresno, California. It awarded 9 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Fresno State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno State are $17,581, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Fresno State

#6

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#7 in overall quality

San Diego State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. San Diego State University is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 25 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

SDSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full SDSU Communication & Journalism Report

#7

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 2 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670.

Full University of California - Santa Barbara Communication & Journalism Report

#14 in overall quality

California State University - Northridge ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. California State University - Northridge is a large school located in Northridge, California that handed out 23 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUN also took the #14 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSUN are $17,955.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at California State University - Northridge

#8 in overall quality

University of California - Davis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Davis, California, this large public school awarded 2 degrees to qualified masters’s communication and journalism students in 2019-2020.

UC Davis not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Davis are $28,700, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at UC Davis

University of California - San Diego ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. La Jolla, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communication and journalism degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

UCSD also took the #0 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSD are $28,631, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UCSD Communication & Journalism Report

#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. California State University - Long Beach is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at California State University - Long Beach

#12

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#1 in overall quality

University of Southern California landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Southern California is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 479 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k list, USC has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at USC

#13

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California
#21 in overall quality

California State University - San Bernardino landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. California State University - San Bernardino is a fairly large school located in San Bernardino, California that handed out 8 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSUSB, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSUSB are $17,936.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at CSUSB

#17 in overall quality

California State University - Sacramento ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 5 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Sac State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Sacramento are $18,356, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Sac State Communication & Journalism Report

#15

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#9 in overall quality

San Jose State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. San Jose, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communication and journalism degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.

San Jose State also took the #9 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State are $18,790, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full San Jose State Communication & Journalism Report

#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, California State University - East Bay did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Hayward, California, and it awarded 12 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State East Bay did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State East Bay are $17,828, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Cal State East Bay

#17

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#13 in overall quality

San Francisco State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. San Francisco State University is a large school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 10 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SFSU, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at San Francisco State University

#16 in overall quality

California State University - Chico ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Chico, California, and it awarded 5 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k list, Chico State has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Chico are $18,802, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at California State University - Chico

#19

National University

La Jolla, California
#19 in overall quality

National University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in La Jolla, California, and it awarded 33 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at National University, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at National University are $15,480.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at National University

#20

California Baptist University

Riverside, California
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, California Baptist University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Riverside, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s communication and journalism degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.

Cal Baptist also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal Baptist are $14,140, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at California Baptist University

#21

Chapman University

Orange, California
#4 in overall quality

Chapman University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Chapman University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Orange, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Chapman did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Chapman are $35,105, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Chapman

#22

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#6 in overall quality

University of San Francisco came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of San Francisco is a fairly large school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 24 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USFCA, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of San Francisco are $26,710, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of San Francisco Communication & Journalism Report

#23

Pepperdine University

Malibu, California

Pepperdine University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Pepperdine University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Malibu, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k list, Pepperdine has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Pepperdine University are $36,320, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Pepperdine University

#24

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California
#20 in overall quality

Academy of Art University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. Located in San Francisco, California, this medium-sized private for-profit school awarded 32 diplomas to qualified masters’s communication and journalism students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Academy of Art University, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Academy of Art University are $27,688, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Academy of Art University

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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