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Best Communication and Media Studies Schools in California

California has 48 colleges offering Communication and Media Studies programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 7,970 recent graduates. Graduates in California earn $37,142 on average within two years — 11% above the national average of $33,523, making the state one of the stronger markets for this field.

School choice matters significantly: Northeastern University Oakland graduates earn $49,868 while California State University-Dominguez Hills graduates earn $24,615 — a $25,253 gap. Research each program's curriculum, employer connections, and career services before deciding.

48
Schools in CA
$37,142
CA Avg. Earnings
$33,523
National Avg.
678
Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Communication and Media Studies in California

Public Schools (23)
$36,498
avg. 2yr earnings
Private Schools (21)
$37,482
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $984 more in early earnings on average, but typically cost more. Compare net price to determine which offers better ROI.

Communication and Media Studies Schools in California, Ranked by Earnings

#1
N

Northeastern University Oakland

Oakland, CA · Private

$49,868
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $48,567
Graduates: 118
Acceptance: 16.5%
#2
U

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public

$47,473
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $48,287
Graduates: 199
Acceptance: 11.7%
#3
S

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA · Private

$44,858
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $53,040
Graduates: 89
Acceptance: 43.8%
#4
S

Saint Mary's College of California

Moraga, CA · Private

$44,356
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $36,184
Graduates: 51
Acceptance: 88.6%
#5
U

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$44,046
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $46,379
Graduates: 194
Acceptance: 10.0%
#6
S

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

$43,937
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $42,620
Graduates: 321
Acceptance: 96.2%
#7
D

DeVry University-California

Ontario, CA · For-Profit

$42,123
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 43.3%
#8
C

California State University-East Bay

Hayward, CA · Public

$42,012
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $35,332
Graduates: 167
Acceptance: 96.8%
#9
U

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public

$41,889
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $41,054
Graduates: 344
Acceptance: 27.8%
#10
S

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA · Public

$41,286
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $41,664
Graduates: 119
Acceptance: 80.2%
#11
U

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public

$40,874
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $38,895
Graduates: 302
Acceptance: 41.6%
#12
W

Westmont College

Santa Barbara, CA · Private

$40,402
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $37,638
Graduates: 34
Acceptance: 79.9%
#13
U

University of Phoenix-California

Ontario, CA ·

$40,233
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $41,894
Graduates: 291
Acceptance: N/A
#14
L

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$40,140
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $39,373
Graduates: 132
Acceptance: 40.3%
#15
N

Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA · Private

$39,729
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $29,750
Graduates: 20
Acceptance: N/A
#16
U

University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA · Public

$39,369
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $34,173
Graduates: 247
Acceptance: 24.5%
#17
P

Pepperdine University

Malibu, CA · Private

$39,369
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $37,476
Graduates: 16
Acceptance: 49.9%
#18
U

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, CA · Private

$38,829
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $41,755
Graduates: 122
Acceptance: 50.8%
#19
C

California Baptist University

Riverside, CA · Private

$38,289
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $35,400
Graduates: 54
Acceptance: 73.6%
#20
U

University of San Diego

San Diego, CA · Private

$38,289
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $39,639
Graduates: 99
Acceptance: 46.8%
#21
A

Ashford University

San Diego, CA ·

$37,748
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $42,847
Graduates: 86
Acceptance: N/A
#22
S

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA · Public

$37,424
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $39,432
Graduates: 98
Acceptance: 94.7%
#23
C

California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA · Public

$37,057
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $34,333
Graduates: 1,049
Acceptance: 86.7%
#24
C

California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public

$37,038
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $33,383
Graduates: 228
Acceptance: 93.7%
#25
A

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, CA ·

$36,132
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: N/A
#26
C

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public

$36,007
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $36,922
Graduates: 583
Acceptance: 93.6%
#27
B

Biola University

La Mirada, CA · Private

$35,772
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $30,228
Graduates: 54
Acceptance: 60.1%
#28
C

California State University-San Marcos

San Marcos, CA · Public

$35,535
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $35,822
Graduates: 202
Acceptance: 95.7%
#29
C

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Pomona, CA · Public

$35,142
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $32,066
Graduates: 132
Acceptance: 73.7%
#30
C

California State University-Stanislaus

Turlock, CA · Public

$35,060
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $27,107
Graduates: 84
Acceptance: 97.5%
#31
C

California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public

$35,060
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $33,193
Graduates: 453
Acceptance: 93.2%
#32
C

Concordia University-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Private

$34,704
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $33,624
Graduates: 37
Acceptance: 59.9%
#33
C

California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public

$34,559
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $34,094
Graduates: 511
Acceptance: 47.1%
#34
A

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, CA · Private

$34,526
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $36,587
Graduates: 101
Acceptance: 79.5%
#35
C

California State University-Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA · Public

$34,170
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $35,360
Graduates: 169
Acceptance: 93.1%
#36
S

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public

$33,535
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $34,509
Graduates: 253
Acceptance: 34.4%
#37
C

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

$33,459
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $40,455
Graduates: 56
Acceptance: 29.8%
#38
V

Vanguard University of Southern California

Costa Mesa, CA · Private

$33,043
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $30,413
Graduates: 19
Acceptance: 64.7%
#39
P

Point Loma Nazarene University

San Diego, CA · Private

$32,925
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $34,147
Graduates: 17
Acceptance: 81.8%
#40
U

University of La Verne

La Verne, CA · Private

$32,569
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $33,817
Graduates: 59
Acceptance: 48.5%
#41
C

California State University-Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA · Public

$32,282
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $32,507
Graduates: 42
Acceptance: 88.2%
#42
U

University of the Pacific

Stockton, CA · Private

$31,851
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 94.9%
#43
C

Chapman University

Orange, CA · Private

$31,647
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $33,002
Graduates: 65
Acceptance: 55.6%
#44
C

California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA · Public

$31,346
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $29,022
Graduates: 213
Acceptance: 96.4%
#45
C

California Lutheran University

Thousand Oaks, CA · Private

$31,133
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $31,193
Graduates: 80
Acceptance: 88.9%
#46
T

The Master's University and Seminary

Santa Clarita, CA · Private

$30,771
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $32,949
Graduates: 36
Acceptance: 75.9%
#47
C

California State University-San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA · Public

$30,336
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $26,707
Graduates: 212
Acceptance: 98.3%
#48
C

California State University-Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA · Public

$24,615
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $33,504
Graduates: 212
Acceptance: 91.3%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Communication and Media Studies in California?
Northeastern University Oakland ranks #1 for Communication and Media Studies in California with median graduate earnings of $49,868 within two years of graduation. There are 48 schools offering Communication and Media Studies programs in the state.
How much do Communication and Media Studies graduates earn in California?
Communication and Media Studies graduates in California earn an average of $37,142 within two years of graduation. This is 11% above the national average of $33,523 for this major.
What is the hardest Communication and Media Studies school to get into in California?
University of Southern California is the most selective Communication and Media Studies program in California with an acceptance rate of 10.0%. The average acceptance rate across Communication and Media Studies programs in the state is 66.8%.
Should I attend a public or private school for Communication and Media Studies in California?
In California, private Communication and Media Studies programs produce average earnings of $37,482 vs $36,498 at public schools. However, public schools typically cost less — consider net price relative to earnings when calculating ROI. There are 23 public and 21 private options in the state.

Other Popular Majors in California

Construction Management $81,700 Construction Engineering $81,610 Construction Engineering Technologies $76,343 Engineering, General $76,184 Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions $75,984 Manufacturing Engineering $73,841 Engineering-Related Fields $73,096 Computer Science $72,889
All colleges in California →

Communication and Media Studies in Other States

New York Pennsylvania Texas Illinois North Carolina Massachusetts Ohio Minnesota Wisconsin Virginia Michigan Indiana View All →

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Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.