# Best Communications Colleges in California

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 50 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-communications-california

## Methodology

Communications programs in California ranked by outcomes and program concentration

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

California is home to some of the best communications programs in the country, offering students a chance to build a career in a dynamic field. With an average earning potential of $64,725 for graduates, these programs provide a solid foundation for those looking to make their mark in communications.

What sets the top schools apart in this ranking are their outcomes: earnings, graduation rates, mobility, and student debt levels. The schools listed below excel in these areas, making them stand out choices for prospective students. Pay attention to the earnings figures, as they reflect the financial return on investment for graduates, while graduation rates show how well institutions support their students.

For example, the University of Southern California leads the list with impressive earnings of $92,498 and a graduation rate of 92%, indicating strong program effectiveness. In contrast, California State University-Fullerton has a lower earning potential of $62,951 and a graduation rate of 70%, showcasing the tradeoffs students might consider when choosing a school.

## Key Findings

- University of Southern California graduates earn $92,498, the highest in this ranking.
- California State University-Fullerton has a graduation rate of 70%, the lowest among the top schools.
- The average net price for these programs is $16,491, making affordability a key factor.
- Graduates from the University of California-Davis have a debt of $13,000, one of the lowest in the top five.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [University of Southern California](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-southern-california) | Los Angeles, CA | 92% | $92,498 | $32,740 | $18,000 | 0.19x |
| 2 | [San Jose State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/san-jose-state-university) | San Jose, CA | 67% | $78,988 | $13,760 | $15,000 | 0.19x |
| 3 | [Santa Clara University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/santa-clara-university) | Santa Clara, CA | 88% | $109,183 | $50,062 | $19,162 | 0.18x |
| 4 | [San Francisco State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/san-francisco-state-university) | San Francisco, CA | 50% | $68,077 | $12,278 | $15,371 | 0.23x |
| 5 | [Scripps College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/scripps-college) | Claremont, CA | 85% | $77,539 | $36,294 | $13,500 | 0.17x |
| 6 | [San Diego State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/san-diego-state-university) | San Diego, CA | 77% | $64,909 | $15,364 | $15,000 | 0.23x |
| 7 | [University of the Pacific](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-the-pacific) | Stockton, CA | 68% | $78,445 | $25,447 | $19,500 | 0.25x |
| 8 | [California Lutheran University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-lutheran-university) | Thousand Oaks, CA | 72% | $68,712 | $30,109 | $21,669 | 0.32x |
| 9 | [Pitzer College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pitzer-college) | Claremont, CA | 83% | $69,512 | $34,191 | $16,750 | 0.24x |
| 10 | [University of San Diego](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-san-diego) | San Diego, CA | 83% | $86,522 | $30,365 | $22,940 | 0.27x |
| 11 | [Sonoma State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/sonoma-state-university) | Rohnert Park, CA | 59% | $65,986 | $12,885 | $16,705 | 0.25x |
| 12 | [Pepperdine University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pepperdine-university) | Malibu, CA | 84% | $82,939 | $58,098 | $23,510 | 0.28x |
| 13 | [Vanguard University of Southern California](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/vanguard-university-of-southern-california) | Costa Mesa, CA | 56% | $59,541 | $21,241 | $22,000 | 0.37x |
| 14 | [University of California-Santa Barbara](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-california-santa-barbara) | Santa Barbara, CA | 84% | $74,915 | $16,109 | $13,993 | 0.19x |
| 15 | [Loyola Marymount University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/loyola-marymount-university) | Los Angeles, CA | 79% | $78,349 | $48,381 | $19,500 | 0.25x |
| 16 | [Saint Mary's College of California](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-marys-college-of-california) | Moraga, CA | 70% | $78,812 | $30,378 | $23,691 | 0.3x |
| 17 | [Chapman University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/chapman-university) | Orange, CA | 81% | $70,070 | $46,555 | $20,500 | 0.29x |
| 18 | [Westmont College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/westmont-college) | Santa Barbara, CA | 70% | $64,778 | $29,053 | $23,250 | 0.36x |
| 19 | [University of San Francisco](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-san-francisco) | San Francisco, CA | 71% | $89,812 | $41,431 | $23,000 | 0.26x |
| 20 | [University of California-Davis](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-california-davis) | Davis, CA | 85% | $80,838 | $14,741 | $13,000 | 0.16x |
| 21 | [California State University-Fullerton](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-state-university-fullerton) | Fullerton, CA | 70% | $62,951 | $6,555 | $13,750 | 0.22x |
| 22 | [Point Loma Nazarene University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/point-loma-nazarene-university) | San Diego, CA | 76% | $63,998 | $38,729 | $22,990 | 0.36x |
| 23 | [University of La Verne](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-la-verne) | La Verne, CA | 64% | $65,464 | $20,161 | $23,500 | 0.36x |
| 24 | [Biola University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/biola-university) | La Mirada, CA | 68% | $56,778 | $31,495 | $23,875 | 0.42x |
| 25 | [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo) | San Luis Obispo, CA | 86% | $90,768 | $16,665 | $18,500 | 0.2x |
| 26 | [California State University-Long Beach](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-state-university-long-beach) | Long Beach, CA | 69% | $64,403 | $10,440 | $14,289 | 0.22x |
| 27 | [Santa Barbara City College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/santa-barbara-city-college) | Santa Barbara, CA | 34% | $47,647 | $11,315 | $11,000 | 0.23x |
| 28 | [California State University-Northridge](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-state-university-northridge) | Northridge, CA | 57% | $59,115 | $7,021 | $13,872 | 0.23x |
| 29 | [The Master's University and Seminary](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-masters-university-and-seminary) | Santa Clarita, CA | 66% | $57,106 | $32,647 | $20,500 | 0.36x |
| 30 | [Glendale Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/glendale-community-college-ca) | Glendale, CA | 35% | $41,540 | $8,365 | $8,972 | 0.22x |
| 31 | [Woodbury University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/woodbury-university) | Burbank, CA | 58% | $65,668 | $33,692 | $26,960 | 0.41x |
| 32 | [California State University-Sacramento](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-state-university-sacramento) | Sacramento, CA | 56% | $64,876 | $9,338 | $15,000 | 0.23x |
| 33 | [California State University-Los Angeles](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-state-university-los-angeles) | Los Angeles, CA | 53% | $59,211 | $3,967 | $13,000 | 0.22x |
| 34 | [College of Marin](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/college-of-marin) | Kentfield, CA | 38% | $42,654 | $12,351 | $10,062 | 0.24x |
| 35 | [California State University-Channel Islands](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-state-university-channel-islands) | Camarillo, CA | 52% | $62,152 | $9,849 | $15,000 | 0.24x |
| 36 | [California State University-San Bernardino](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-state-university-san-bernardino) | San Bernardino, CA | 55% | $59,977 | $4,564 | $14,715 | 0.25x |
| 37 | [De Anza College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/de-anza-college) | Cupertino, CA | 68% | $56,596 | $6,642 | $5,625 | 0.1x |
| 38 | [California State University-San Marcos](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-state-university-san-marcos) | San Marcos, CA | 54% | $62,908 | $10,229 | $17,350 | 0.28x |
| 39 | [California State University-Bakersfield](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-state-university-bakersfield) | Bakersfield, CA | 50% | $59,009 | $5,652 | $16,600 | 0.28x |
| 40 | [Ohlone College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ohlone-college) | Fremont, CA | 53% | $54,278 | $11,130 | N/A | N/A |
| 41 | [California State University-Dominguez Hills](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-state-university-dominguez-hills) | Carson, CA | 45% | $57,162 | $8,615 | $13,807 | 0.24x |
| 42 | [California State University-Chico](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-state-university-chico) | Chico, CA | 63% | $64,172 | $14,480 | $16,552 | 0.26x |
| 43 | [College of San Mateo](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/college-of-san-mateo) | San Mateo, CA | 59% | $54,172 | $536 | $14,695 | 0.27x |
| 44 | [California State University-Fresno](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-state-university-fresno) | Fresno, CA | 56% | $61,244 | $7,000 | $14,505 | 0.24x |
| 45 | [Gavilan College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/gavilan-college) | Gilroy, CA | 43% | $47,169 | $6,542 | N/A | N/A |
| 46 | [Diablo Valley College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/diablo-valley-college) | Pleasant Hill, CA | 47% | $51,378 | $8,312 | $10,021 | 0.2x |
| 47 | [John Paul the Great Catholic University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/john-paul-the-great-catholic-university) | Escondido, CA | 65% | $56,930 | $34,666 | $26,968 | 0.47x |
| 48 | [West Valley College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/west-valley-college) | Saratoga, CA | 52% | $51,688 | $3,423 | N/A | N/A |
| 49 | [Life Pacific University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/life-pacific-university) | San Dimas, CA | 48% | $43,299 | $20,898 | $22,395 | 0.52x |
| 50 | [Cosumnes River College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cosumnes-river-college) | Sacramento, CA | 36% | $42,446 | $5,981 | $10,722 | 0.25x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Communications Colleges in California." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-communications-california

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.