2023 Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k
23
Ranked Colleges
2,260
Degrees Awarded
$10,900
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Communication Sciences is the 47th most popular major in the country with 22,298 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, communication sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $47,173 and had an average of $22,255 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 2,260 communication sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $49,921 and $18,938 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 23 colleges that offered a degree in communication sciences. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent communication sciences programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the communication sciences program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Communication Sciences Schools
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 23 Best Value Colleges for Communication Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in California
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cal State LA is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 205 ’s communication sciences degrees to qualified students.
Cal State LA also made our “Best Communication Sciences Schools in California” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for Cal State LA is $1,887 for California Communication Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication Sciences at Cal State LA
Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fresno landed the #2 spot on the list. California State University - Fresno is a large school located in Fresno, California that handed out 172 ’s communication sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
Fresno State also took the #7 spot in our “Best Communication Sciences Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Fresno State is $3,859 for California Communication Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication Sciences at Fresno State
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fullerton. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communication sciences degrees to 186 students in 2020-2021.
Cal State Fullerton not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Communication Sciences Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Cal State Fullerton is $4,590 for California Communication Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication Sciences at California State University - Fullerton
Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Orange Coast College landed the #4 spot on the list. Orange Coast College is a public institution located in Costa Mesa, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 23 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Orange Coast College, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Communication Sciences Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $3,681 for California Communication Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Orange Coast College.
Read full report on Communication Sciences at Orange Coast College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Diego State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k. San Diego State University is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 192 ’s communication sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
SDSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Communication Sciences Schools in California” list. It costs about $7,169 for California Communication Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SDSU.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication Sciences at San Diego State University
California State University - Northridge ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. CSUN is a large school located in Northridge, California that handed out 281 ’s communication sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
CSUN also made our “Best Communication Sciences Schools in California” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend CSUN is $6,266 for california communication sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Communication Sciences at California State University - Northridge
With a ranking of #7, Pasadena City College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Pasadena City College is a large school located in Pasadena, California that handed out 18 ’s communication sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california communication sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, Pasadena City College has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Communication Sciences Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $3,153 for California Communication Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Pasadena City College.
Read full report on Communication Sciences at Pasadena City College
With a ranking of #8, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. California State University - Long Beach is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 50 ’s communication sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSULB, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Communication Sciences Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $6,663 for California Communication Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend CSULB.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication Sciences at CSULB
Cerritos College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Norwalk, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communication sciences degrees to 31 students in 2020-2021.
Cerritos College also made our “Best Communication Sciences Schools in California” list, coming in at #24. It costs about $1,419 for California Communication Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Cerritos College.
Read full report on Communication Sciences at Cerritos College
American River College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Sacramento, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communication sciences degrees to 20 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california communication sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, American River has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Communication Sciences Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for American River College is $4,848 for California Communication Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Communication Sciences at American River College
Santa Ana College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. SAC is a large public school situated in Santa Ana, California. It awarded 21 ’s communication sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SAC, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Communication Sciences Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SAC is $3,975 for California Communication Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full SAC Communication Sciences Report
California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. California State University - Sacramento is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 161 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Sac State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Communication Sciences Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Sacramento is $8,163 for California Communication Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Sac State Communication Sciences Report
California State University - San Marcos ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. California State University - San Marcos is a public institution located in San Marcos, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 121 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSUSM, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Communication Sciences Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California State University - San Marcos is $9,397 for california communication sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication Sciences at California State University - San Marcos
San Joaquin Delta College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. San Joaquin Delta College is a fairly large school located in Stockton, California that handed out 24 ’s communication sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
Delta also made our “Best Communication Sciences Schools in California” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for San Joaquin Delta College is $14,087 for california communication sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Communication Sciences at San Joaquin Delta College
With a ranking of #15, California State University - East Bay did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. California State University - East Bay is a fairly large public school situated in Hayward, California. It awarded 70 ’s communication sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State East Bay, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Communication Sciences Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $9,975 for California Communication Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Cal State East Bay.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication Sciences at California State University - East Bay
San Jose State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. San Jose, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communication sciences degrees to 55 students in 2020-2021.
San Jose State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Communication Sciences Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend San Jose State is $12,158 for California Communication Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Read more about Communication Sciences at San Jose State
With a ranking of #17, San Francisco State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. SFSU is a large public school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 99 ’s communication sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SFSU, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Communication Sciences Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SFSU is $10,705 for California Communication Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication Sciences at San Francisco State University
With a ranking of #18, California State University - Chico did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Chico, California, and it awarded 87 ’s communication sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Chico State, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Communication Sciences Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $11,754 for California Communication Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Chico State.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication Sciences at Chico State
University of the Pacific ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Pacific is a medium-sized school located in Stockton, California that handed out 70 ’s communication sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
Pacific did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Communication Sciences Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Pacific is $22,792 for california communication sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Communication Sciences at University of the Pacific
California Baptist University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cal Baptist is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 71 ’s communication sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
Cal Baptist not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Communication Sciences Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for California Baptist University is $21,769 for California Communication Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Communication Sciences at Cal Baptist
University of Redlands landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Redlands, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 54 degrees to qualified ’s communication sciences students in 2020-2021.
University of Redlands also made our “Best Communication Sciences Schools in California” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for University of Redlands is $20,409 for California Communication Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Redlands Communication Sciences Report
Biola University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in La Mirada, California, and it awarded 67 ’s communication sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
Biola not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Communication Sciences Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Biola University is $27,024 for california communication sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Biola University Communication Sciences Report
Chapman University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Orange, California, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 46 diplomas to qualified ’s communication sciences students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Chapman, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Communication Sciences Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $34,946 for California Communication Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Chapman University.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication Sciences at Chapman
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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
- *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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