2026 Best Value General Communication Sciences & Disorders Schools in California
[General Communication Sciences & Disorders](/majors/health-care-professions/communication-sciences/communication-sciences-and-disorders-general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for general communication sciences & disorders students.
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2026 Best Value General Communication Sciences & Disorders Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general communication sciences & disorders degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Communication Sciences & Disorders Schools
California State University Los Angeles tops our 2026 list of the best value general communication sciences & disorders schools in California. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,164, with out-of-state students paying around $19,764. Typical student debt for general communication sciences & disorders graduates is $12,500. Soon after graduation, general communication sciences & disorders degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles generally make around $57,269. Set against $12,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Los Angeles admits about 91% of applicants.
California State University Fullerton is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general communication sciences & disorders, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,470 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,070. Typical student debt for general communication sciences & disorders graduates is $15,000. Soon after graduation, general communication sciences & disorders degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $50,476. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Fresno came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general communication sciences & disorders schools. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,341, with out-of-state students paying around $19,941. General Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates carry a median of $17,336 in student loans. Early-career general communication sciences & disorders graduates make about $50,826. Set against $17,336 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Northridge is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general communication sciences & disorders, landing the #4 spot this year. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. Students from in state pay about $7,458 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,058 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general communication sciences & disorders graduates is $15,356. Early-career general communication sciences & disorders graduates make about $44,500. Set against $15,356 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Long Beach came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value general communication sciences & disorders schools. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,374, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the general communication sciences & disorders program here. General Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $50,982 early in their careers. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Long Beach admits about 46% of applicants.
California State University Sacramento ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value general communication sciences & disorders schools. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. In-state tuition and fees average $8,018, compared with $20,618 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general communication sciences & disorders graduates is $17,750. General Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $50,682 early in their careers. Set against $17,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
California State University San Marcos earned the #7 position for value in general communication sciences & disorders this year. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,082 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,682. General Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates carry a median of $15,998 in student loans. General Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates of California State University San Marcos earn a median of $48,627 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University San Marcos admits about 95% of applicants.
California State University East Bay landed the #8 spot for general communication sciences & disorders value this year. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,583, compared with $20,183 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general communication sciences & disorders graduates is $18,261. Early-career general communication sciences & disorders graduates make about $54,848. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
San Francisco State University placed #9 among the best values for general communication sciences & disorders. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,846, with out-of-state students paying around $20,446. General Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates carry a median of $19,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general communication sciences & disorders degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $54,483. That is a strong return on a $19,250 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
San Jose State University came in at #10 for value in general communication sciences & disorders this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. Students from in state pay about $8,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. Median earnings reach $78,988 ten years out. San Jose State University admits about 85% of applicants.
California State University Chico placed #11 among the best values for general communication sciences & disorders. California State University Chico is a large public school located in the city of Chico. In-state tuition and fees average $8,472, compared with $21,072 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general communication sciences & disorders graduates is $19,222. Early-career general communication sciences & disorders graduates make about $51,265. Set against $19,222 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
San Diego State University landed the #12 spot for general communication sciences & disorders value this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,728, while out-of-state students pay about $21,328. Typical student debt for general communication sciences & disorders graduates is $15,000. Early-career general communication sciences & disorders graduates make about $50,428. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 36%.
University Of The Pacific landed the #13 spot for general communication sciences & disorders value this year. Set in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,080. General Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general communication sciences & disorders degree recipients from University Of The Pacific generally make around $93,206. That is a strong return on a $18,500 median debt. University Of The Pacific admits about 71% of applicants.
California Baptist University landed the #14 spot for general communication sciences & disorders value this year. Located in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,228. Typical student debt for general communication sciences & disorders graduates is $26,375. Early-career general communication sciences & disorders graduates make about $58,776. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California Baptist University admits about 85% of applicants.
Biola University placed #15 among the best values for general communication sciences & disorders. Set in the suburb of La Mirada, Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $48,984. Typical student debt for general communication sciences & disorders graduates is $27,000. General Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates of Biola University earn a median of $70,949 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Chapman University landed the #16 spot for general communication sciences & disorders value this year. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,984. General Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates carry a median of $21,657 in student loans. General Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates of Chapman University earn a median of $79,836 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,657 median debt. Chapman University admits about 65% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 ranked schools only.
- 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.
