2027 Best Visual Communications Schools in California
Visual Communications is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for visual communications students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Visual Communications 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 visual communications degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Visual Communications
Leading the list is University Of Southern California, our #1 school for visual communications. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 43 visual communications students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual communications program make about $64,846 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,262.
Read more about the visual communications program at University Of Southern California
University Of California Davis is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual communications, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. University Of California Davis awarded about 277 visual communications degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual communications degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $32,816. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual communications from University Of California Davis
A rank of #3 makes San Francisco State University one of the top schools for visual communications. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 79 visual communications students who graduated with this degree at San Francisco State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual communications degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $34,845. Typical student debt for the program is $18,000.
More information about a degree in visual communications from San Francisco State University
University Of California San Diego came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best visual communications schools. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. University Of California San Diego awarded about 34 visual communications degrees in the most recent data year. Visual Communications graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $60,797 early in their careers. University Of California San Diego graduates carry a median of $16,787 in student loans.
Get the full visual communications details for University Of California San Diego
Azusa Pacific University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual communications, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Azusa, Azusa Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. About 10 visual communications degrees were awarded at Azusa Pacific University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual communications degree from Azusa Pacific University earn around $58,302 in the first couple years of their career. Azusa Pacific University graduates carry a median of $23,709 in student loans.
Read more about the visual communications program at Azusa Pacific University
University Of San Francisco landed the #6 spot for visual communications this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. University Of San Francisco awarded about 37 visual communications degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual communications degree recipients from University Of San Francisco generally make around $32,070. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete this degree.
See the full visual communications program report for University Of San Francisco
California State University Chico ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best visual communications schools. This large public university is located in the city of Chico. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 22 visual communications degrees were awarded at California State University Chico in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual communications degree recipients from California State University Chico generally make around $27,573. Typical student debt for the program is $19,047.
Read more about the visual communications program at California State University Chico
California State University Monterey Bay came in at #8 for visual communications this year. Located in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public university. California State University Monterey Bay graduates 59% of students within six years. About 27 visual communications degrees were awarded at California State University Monterey Bay in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual communications program make about $30,378 in their early career. California State University Monterey Bay graduates carry a median of $14,827 in student loans.
Read more about the visual communications program at California State University Monterey Bay
Biola University earned the #9 position for visual communications this year. Set in the suburb of La Mirada, Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. Biola University awarded about 11 visual communications degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual communications program make about $45,003 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,308 to complete this degree.
See the full visual communications program report for Biola University
California College Of The Arts ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best visual communications schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, California College Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. About 31 visual communications degrees were awarded at California College Of The Arts in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual communications program make about $28,673 in their early career. California College Of The Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the visual communications program at California College Of The Arts
More Visual Communications Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 10 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.
