Best institutions to study Communication and Media Studies in California
The Communication and Media Studies program focuses on the processes of human communication and behavior, exploring how individuals and groups exchange ideas and information across various media. This program is designed for students…
Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree | $62,183 | 104 | 86% | — | $14,928 |
| 2 | Santa Clara University Santa Clara Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $51,720 | 103 | 88% | $44,094 | $18,500 |
| 3 | Pepperdine University Malibu Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,398 | 22 | 83% | $41,986 | $19,667 |
| 4 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,651 | 440 | 92% | $26,873 | $17,702 |
| 5 | DeVry University - California Ontario Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,622 | 1 | 22% | $35,320 | $56,858 |
| 6 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,598 | 618 | 83% | — | $13,018 |
| 7 | Chapman University Orange Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,601 | 105 | 82% | $42,965 | $19,500 |
| 8 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,696 | 278 | 93% | — | $11,180 |
| 9 | University of California - Davis Davis Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,569 | 265 | 86% | — | $13,000 |
| 10 | California Baptist University Riverside Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,300 | 16 | 62% | $26,940 | $25,126 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Public Relations Specialists (SOC 27-3031).
Top skills
What Public Relations Specialists earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in California.
Which Communication and Media Studies program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo tops the list at $62,183. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in California is $97,140 (median $85,030), across about 32,710 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Communication and Media Studies program?+
The Communication and Media Studies program focuses on the processes of human communication and behavior, exploring how individuals and groups exchange ideas and information across various media. This program is designed for students…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, speaking, writing, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Public Relations Specialists?+
The national job outlook is about +4.8% growth with around 27,600 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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