Best Schools for Communication & Journalism in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall communication & journalism education in California.
Top Schools in Communication & Journalism
No school ranked higher than University Of California Davis this year for communication & journalism. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. About 265 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $42,569 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from University Of California Davis
University Of California Los Angeles is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & journalism, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 232 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $63,833 early in their careers. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans.
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University Of California Santa Barbara is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & journalism, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 618 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $46,598 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,018 to complete this degree.
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Stanford University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & journalism, ranking #4. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 45 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Stanford University earn around $69,670 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #5 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the top schools for communication & journalism. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 284 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $46,112 early in their careers. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $11,180 in student loans.
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University Of Southern California ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. About 1,079 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $51,272 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,978 to complete this degree.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #7 among the best communication & journalism schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 171 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $52,001. Students borrow a median of $18,249 to complete this degree.
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Chapman University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. Chapman University graduates 82% of students within six years. Chapman University awarded about 161 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Chapman University earn a median of $41,262 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,323.
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Santa Clara University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Santa Clara. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 104 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Santa Clara University in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of $51,720 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500.
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San Jose State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 351 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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Loyola Marymount University placed #11 among the best communication & journalism schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit university. Loyola Marymount University graduates 79% of students within six years. There were roughly 133 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Loyola Marymount University earn around $41,113 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Loyola Marymount University
California State University Sacramento placed #12 among the best communication & journalism schools. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 410 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from California State University Sacramento earn around $37,240 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,769 to complete this degree.
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San Francisco State University earned the #13 position for communication & journalism this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. San Francisco State University graduates 50% of students within six years. About 361 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from San Francisco State University earn around $36,302 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,568 to complete this degree.
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California State University Fullerton earned the #14 position for communication & journalism this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. California State University Fullerton graduates 70% of students within six years. California State University Fullerton awarded about 774 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $38,406 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,621.
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University Of California San Diego placed #15 among the best communication & journalism schools. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 228 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $33,046. Typical student debt for the program is $14,568.
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University Of San Francisco placed #16 among the best communication & journalism schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 115 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of San Francisco generally make around $38,351. University Of San Francisco graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
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Pepperdine University came in at #17 for communication & journalism this year. Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Malibu. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 104 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Pepperdine University in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Pepperdine University earn a median of $45,894 early in their careers. Pepperdine University graduates carry a median of $25,021 in student loans.
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San Diego State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. San Diego State University awarded about 574 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $38,225 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,331.
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Santa Rosa Junior College came in at #19 for communication & journalism this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Rosa. There were roughly 43 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Santa Rosa Junior College earn around $80,047 in the first couple years of their career. Santa Rosa Junior College graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans.
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Saint Marys College Of California earned the #20 position for communication & journalism this year. Located in the suburb of Moraga, Saint Marys College Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 51 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Saint Marys College Of California in the most recent year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Saint Marys College Of California earn a median of $35,356 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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California State Polytechnic University Pomona ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 132 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $32,852 in their early career. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates carry a median of $14,267 in student loans.
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California State University Chico came in at #22 for communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 136 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at California State University Chico in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from California State University Chico earn around $37,093 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,343 to complete this degree.
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Pomona College came in at #23 for communication & journalism this year. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Pomona College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Pomona College in the most recent year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Pomona College earn a median of $75,954 early in their careers.
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Orange Coast College placed #24 among the best communication & journalism schools. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public university. About 192 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Orange Coast College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Orange Coast College generally make around $46,306. Typical student debt for the program is $8,978.
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California State University East Bay earned the #25 position for communication & journalism this year. California State University East Bay is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. There were roughly 107 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at California State University East Bay in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from California State University East Bay earn around $35,722 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,250 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Communication & Journalism Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong communication & journalism education:
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 186 schools evaluated.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
