2026 Best Communication Sciences Schools in California
Communication Sciences programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 34 schools to find the best for communication sciences students.
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Best Schools for Communication Sciences in California
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the communication sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Communication Sciences
Leading the list is San Jose State University, our #1 school for communication sciences. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. San Jose State University awarded about 99 communication sciences degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full communication sciences program report for San Jose State University
San Diego State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best communication sciences schools. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 189 communication sciences degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication sciences degree from San Diego State University earn around $50,428 in the first couple years of their career. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
Read more about the communication sciences program at San Diego State University
A rank of #3 makes University Of The Pacific one of the top schools for communication sciences. Located in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. University Of The Pacific graduates 68% of students within six years. University Of The Pacific awarded about 71 communication sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from University Of The Pacific generally make around $93,206. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication sciences from University Of The Pacific
California State University Long Beach is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. California State University Long Beach awarded about 108 communication sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $50,186. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
More information about a degree in communication sciences from California State University Long Beach
A rank of #5 makes Chapman University one of the top schools for communication sciences. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. Chapman University awarded about 44 communication sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Communication Sciences graduates of Chapman University earn a median of $79,836 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,657 to complete this degree.
Get the full communication sciences details for Chapman University
University Of Southern California placed #6 among the best communication sciences schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 23 communication sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication sciences program make about $75,677 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete this degree.
Get the full communication sciences details for University Of Southern California
California State University Fullerton placed #7 among the best communication sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fullerton. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 170 communication sciences degrees were awarded at California State University Fullerton in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication sciences program make about $50,476 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
More information about a degree in communication sciences from California State University Fullerton
California State University Sacramento came in at #8 for communication sciences this year. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. About 56% of students finish within six years. California State University Sacramento awarded about 147 communication sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication sciences degree from California State University Sacramento earn around $50,682 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans.
See the full communication sciences program report for California State University Sacramento
California State University Northridge came in at #9 for communication sciences this year. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 265 communication sciences students who graduated with this degree at California State University Northridge in the most recent data year. Communication Sciences graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $44,500 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,356 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication sciences from California State University Northridge
San Francisco State University came in at #10 for communication sciences this year. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. San Francisco State University graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 62 communication sciences students who graduated with this degree at San Francisco State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication sciences program make about $54,483 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,250.
Read more about the communication sciences program at San Francisco State University
University Of St Augustine For Health Sciences placed #11 among the best communication sciences schools. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, University Of St Augustine For Health Sciences is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. University Of St Augustine For Health Sciences awarded about 142 communication sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication sciences program make about $57,409 in their early career.
Read more about the communication sciences program at University Of St Augustine For Health Sciences
Loma Linda University came in at #12 for communication sciences this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Loma Linda. About 48 communication sciences degrees were awarded at Loma Linda University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from Loma Linda University generally make around $75,945. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the communication sciences program at Loma Linda University
Santa Ana College came in at #13 for communication sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Ana. About 29 communication sciences degrees were awarded at Santa Ana College in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication sciences degree from Santa Ana College earn around $39,633 in the first couple years of their career. Santa Ana College graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans.
See the full communication sciences program report for Santa Ana College
Pasadena City College landed the #14 spot for communication sciences this year. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Pasadena City College awarded about 29 communication sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication sciences program make about $38,841 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete this degree.
Get the full communication sciences details for Pasadena City College
California State University Chico came in at #15 for communication sciences this year. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. California State University Chico awarded about 65 communication sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Communication Sciences graduates of California State University Chico earn a median of $51,265 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,222 to complete this degree.
See the full communication sciences program report for California State University Chico
Orange Coast College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best communication sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Costa Mesa. Orange Coast College awarded about 11 communication sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication sciences degree from Orange Coast College earn around $46,306 in the first couple years of their career. Orange Coast College graduates carry a median of $8,978 in student loans.
See the full communication sciences program report for Orange Coast College
California State University Los Angeles landed the #17 spot for communication sciences this year. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. About 53% of students finish within six years. California State University Los Angeles awarded about 149 communication sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication sciences degree from California State University Los Angeles earn around $57,269 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $12,500 in student loans.
Read more about the communication sciences program at California State University Los Angeles
California State University East Bay came in at #18 for communication sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public university. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 64 communication sciences degrees were awarded at California State University East Bay in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication sciences program make about $54,848 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,261 to complete this degree.
Get the full communication sciences details for California State University East Bay
West Coast University Orange County placed #19 among the best communication sciences schools. Located in the city of Anaheim, West Coast University Orange County is a moderately-sized private for-profit university. West Coast University Orange County graduates 60% of students within six years. West Coast University Orange County awarded about 15 communication sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from West Coast University Orange County generally make around $83,549. Students borrow a median of $37,140 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication sciences from West Coast University Orange County
California State University Fresno earned the #20 position for communication sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Fresno. California State University Fresno graduates 57% of students within six years. California State University Fresno awarded about 122 communication sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Communication Sciences graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $50,826 early in their careers. California State University Fresno graduates carry a median of $17,336 in student loans.
See the full communication sciences program report for California State University Fresno
California State University Monterey Bay placed #21 among the best communication sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Monterey Bay awarded about 24 communication sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication sciences program make about $49,032 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,622.
More information about a degree in communication sciences from California State University Monterey Bay
California State University San Marcos ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best communication sciences schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of San Marcos. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. About 103 communication sciences degrees were awarded at California State University San Marcos in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication sciences degree from California State University San Marcos earn around $48,627 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,998 to complete this degree.
See the full communication sciences program report for California State University San Marcos
Cerritos College earned the #23 position for communication sciences this year. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. About 78 communication sciences degrees were awarded at Cerritos College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from Cerritos College generally make around $29,495. Students borrow a median of $11,306 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication sciences from Cerritos College
California Baptist University earned the #24 position for communication sciences this year. Set in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 65 communication sciences students who graduated with this degree at California Baptist University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication sciences program make about $58,776 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,375 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication sciences program at California Baptist University
San Joaquin Delta College came in at #25 for communication sciences this year. Located in the city of Stockton, San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public university. About 44 communication sciences degrees were awarded at San Joaquin Delta College in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication sciences degree from San Joaquin Delta College earn around $65,168 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $6,382 to complete this degree.
See the full communication sciences program report for San Joaquin Delta College
Rest of the Top 28 Communication Sciences Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong communication sciences education:
More Communication Sciences Rankings
View All Communication Sciences Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 34 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.
