Best colleges for Communication and Media Studies in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara University and Pepperdine University are the top bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in California by graduate earnings. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $62,183, College Scorecard. University of California-Santa Barbara, California State University - Fullerton and University of Southern California award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in California: 618, 548 and 440 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 165 California colleges offer Communication and Media Studies and award 10,560 degrees and certificates a year in all.
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 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | 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 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,598 | 618 | 83% | — | $13,018 |
| 6 | Chapman University Orange Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,601 | 105 | 82% | $42,965 | $19,500 |
| 7 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,696 | 278 | 93% | — | $11,180 |
| 8 | University of California-Davis Davis Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,569 | 265 | 86% | — | $13,000 |
| 9 | Westmont College Santa Barbara Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,225 | 25 | 70% | $28,035 | $23,250 |
| 10 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,113 | 111 | 79% | $36,488 | $19,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public | 618 | $46,598 |
| 2 | California State University - Fullerton Fullerton Public | 548 | $34,120 |
| 3 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 440 | $47,651 |
| 4 | San Diego State University San Diego Public | 364 | $37,773 |
| 5 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public | 351 | $34,172 |
| 6 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento Public | 336 | $39,304 |
| 7 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 278 | $43,696 |
| 8 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 265 | $42,569 |
| 9 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public | 252 | $33,046 |
| 10 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public | 244 | $30,794 |
ShowHide the other 155 California colleges offering Communication and Media Studies
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 California colleges award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees?+
University of California-Santa Barbara (618 graduates a year), California State University - Fullerton (548 graduates a year) and University of Southern California (440 graduates a year) award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 165 California colleges offer Communication and Media Studies.
What is the best college for Communication and Media Studies in California?+
By graduate earnings, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo leads among bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $62,183, College Scorecard. Santa Clara University and Pepperdine University follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-Santa Barbara is the largest, with 618 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Communication and Media Studies program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo tops the list at $62,183. Compare it against graduates a year, 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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