by our College Data Analytics Team
[Communication & Journalism](/majors/communication-journalism-media/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong communication & journalism education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 145 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value communication & journalism schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communication & journalism, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked Moorpark College the best value for a degree in communication & journalism in California. Moorpark College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Moorpark. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $17,075. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $105,599. That is a strong return on a $17,075 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in communication & journalism will find it at College Of San Mateo, which ranked #2. College Of San Mateo is a large public school located in the city of San Mateo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $11,428. Students borrow a median of $12,831 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,172. That is a strong return on a $12,831 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in communication & journalism will find it at Skyline College, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, compared with $9,956 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,702.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at West Valley College earned it the #4 place for communication & journalism. Set in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $0 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,320 for out-of-state students. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $14,308 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from West Valley College generally make around $25,378. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cerritos College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,004. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $11,306. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Cerritos College generally make around $29,495. Set against $11,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Canyons came in at #6 for value in communication & journalism this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,166, while out-of-state students pay about $10,958. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. Set against $9,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santiago Canyon College came in at #7 for value in communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,164, while out-of-state students pay about $9,612. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of Santiago Canyon College earn a median of $34,100 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oxnard College earned the #8 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Oxnard College is a large public school located in the city of Oxnard. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,393.
Ventura College earned the #9 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Ventura College generally make around $99,778. Set against $20,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Ana College landed the #10 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $39,633. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Irvine Valley College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Set in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,156, with out-of-state students paying around $11,860. Students borrow a median of $6,672 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Median earnings reach $49,156 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $6,672 median debt.
College Of The Sequoias earned the #12 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,394, with out-of-state students paying around $9,038. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $10,288. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $37,749. Set against $10,288 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saddleback College came in at #13 for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,432, with out-of-state students paying around $14,812. Students borrow a median of $5,707 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of Saddleback College earn a median of $15,890 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,707 median debt.
San Diego Miramar College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. San Diego Miramar College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Students borrow a median of $8,098 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $41,038. That is a strong return on a $8,098 median debt.
Santa Monica College placed #15 among the best values for communication & journalism. Set in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, compared with $10,708 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,193 ten years after entry.
Pasadena City College earned the #16 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,924. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $9,191. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Pasadena City College generally make around $38,841. That is a strong return on a $9,191 median debt.
California State University San Bernardino landed the #17 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Set in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,088, while out-of-state students pay about $20,688. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $15,750. Communication & Journalism graduates of California State University San Bernardino earn a median of $32,408 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,750 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Modesto Junior College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Located in the city of Modesto, Modesto Junior College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,282, with out-of-state students paying around $9,264. Students borrow a median of $8,575 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $36,525. Set against $8,575 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Los Angeles came in at #19 for value in communication & journalism this year. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,164, while out-of-state students pay about $19,764. Students borrow a median of $15,068 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $22,133 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Los Angeles admits about 91% of applicants.
Cypress College earned the #20 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Cypress, Cypress College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,150, compared with $12,379 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,533 ten years after entry.
Imperial Valley College placed #21 among the best values for communication & journalism. Located in the rural area of Imperial, Imperial Valley College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,126, while out-of-state students pay about $8,830. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $6,176. Communication & Journalism graduates of Imperial Valley College earn a median of $42,617 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,176 median debt.
Golden West College placed #22 among the best values for communication & journalism. Golden West College is a large public school located in the suburb of Huntington Beach. In-state tuition and fees average $1,380, compared with $11,628 for out-of-state students. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $82,984. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt.
Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #23 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,318, while out-of-state students pay about $11,308. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $80,047 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Citrus College came in at #24 for value in communication & journalism this year. Citrus College is a large public school located in the suburb of Glendora. Students from in state pay about $1,204 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,636. Median earnings reach $42,065 ten years out.
San Diego Mesa College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,999 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of San Diego Mesa College earn a median of $29,852 early in their careers. Set against $6,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in communication & journalism:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 145 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 145 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.