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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Journalism in California (With Aid)

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 Getting Aid

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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 Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 24 colleges that offered a degree 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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 Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid.

Top 24 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Journalism in California (With Aid)

#12 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school awarded 16 diplomas to qualified masters’s communication and journalism students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State LA, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State LA are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Cal State LA

#10 in overall quality

Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fullerton landed the #2 spot on the list. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communication and journalism degrees to 38 students in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton also took the #10 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 Cal State Fullerton are $17,892.

Full California State University - Fullerton Communication & Journalism Report

#3

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Stanford, 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 28 students in 2019-2020.

Stanford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Stanford University

#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 #4 for the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid. Fresno State is a large school located in Fresno, California that handed out 9 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Fresno State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #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 you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Fresno State

#14 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Northridge. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Northridge, California, and it awarded 23 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUN did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full CSUN Communication & Journalism Report

#3 in overall quality

University of California - Berkeley did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Berkeley, California, this large public school awarded 58 diplomas to qualified masters’s communication and journalism students in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also took the #3 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at University of California - Berkeley

#7

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. SDSU is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 25 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SDSU, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at San Diego State University

#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Long Beach, California, this large public school handed out 4 degrees to qualified masters’s communication and journalism students 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. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at California State University - Long Beach

University of California - San Diego ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. University of California - San Diego is a large school located in La Jolla, California that handed out 1 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSD are $28,631, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at UCSD

#10

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California
#21 in overall quality

California State University - San Bernardino ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. CSUSB is a fairly large public school situated in San Bernardino, California. It awarded 8 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUSB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 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 CSUSB are $17,936.

Full California State University - San Bernardino Communication & Journalism Report

#11

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#5 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 2 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB also took the #5 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 University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at University of California - Santa Barbara

#17 in overall quality

California State University - Sacramento came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Sac State is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 5 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Sac State also took the #17 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 California State University - Sacramento are $18,356.

Full Sac State Communication & Journalism Report

#8 in overall quality

University of California - Davis came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of California - Davis is a large public school situated in Davis, California. It awarded 2 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Davis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #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 some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Davis Communication & Journalism Report

#14

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, San Jose State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. San Jose State is a large public school situated in San Jose, California. It awarded 17 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

San Jose State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State University are $18,790, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full San Jose State Communication & Journalism Report

#22 in overall quality

California State University - East Bay did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. California State University - East Bay is a public institution located in Hayward, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 12 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State East Bay also took the #22 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - East Bay are $17,828, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at California State University - East Bay

#16

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#13 in overall quality

San Francisco State University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. San Francisco, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communication and journalism degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

SFSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 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 SFSU are $17,944.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at SFSU

#16 in overall quality

California State University - Chico ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - Chico is located in Chico, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Chico State, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Chico State are $18,802, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Chico State

#18

National University

La Jolla, California
#19 in overall quality

National University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in La Jolla, California, and it awarded 33 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

National University also took the #19 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at National University are $15,480, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at National University

#19

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#1 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, University of Southern California did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. University of Southern California is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 479 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree communication & journalism students with aid 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

#20

California Baptist University

Riverside, California
#11 in overall quality

California Baptist University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. California Baptist University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 23 masters’s communication and journalism degrees 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 California Baptist University are $14,140, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at California Baptist University

#21

Chapman University

Orange, California
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, Chapman University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Chapman is located in Orange, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

Chapman also took the #4 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 Chapman are $35,105.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Chapman University

#22

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California
#20 in overall quality

Academy of Art University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. San Francisco, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out masters’s communication and journalism degrees to 32 students in 2019-2020.

Academy of Art University also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #20. Average graduate tuition and fees at Academy of Art University are $27,688, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Academy of Art University Communication & Journalism Report

#23

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, University of San Francisco did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in San Francisco, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 24 diplomas to qualified masters’s communication and journalism students in 2019-2020.

USFCA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 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 San Francisco are $26,710.

Full USFCA Communication & Journalism Report

#24

Pepperdine University

Malibu, California

Pepperdine University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Pepperdine is located in Malibu, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 masters’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Pepperdine, the school also landed the #0 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 Pepperdine University are $36,320.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Pepperdine 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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