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SAME FIELD · SAME CREDENTIAL · ONE STATE

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree programs in California

Compare 42 reporting programs using the same federal field and bachelor's degree credential definition. Earnings are observed four years after completion.

42Programs reporting earnings
$59,842Median year-4 earnings
$17,125Median federal debt
38Programs reporting debt
OUTCOME SPREAD

Highest reported earnings in California

Each bar uses the same field, credential, state and earnings year.

1Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara · $18,500 federal debt$84,2062University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles · $17,702 federal debt$75,8643University of California, BerkeleyBerkeley · $11,180 federal debt$75,6124California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo · $14,928 federal debt$75,2235Chapman UniversityOrange · $19,500 federal debt$73,4616University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara · $13,018 federal debt$72,9767University of California, DavisDavis · $13,000 federal debt$72,7788Loyola Marymount UniversityLos Angeles · $19,500 federal debt$69,1449University of San DiegoSan Diego · $25,000 federal debt$68,91310Sonoma State UniversityRohnert Park · $17,129 federal debt$68,833
CAREER CONTEXT IN CA

What related occupations pay in California

These are common occupational matches for this field, ranked by the strength of the federal education-to-occupation match.

11-2032Public Relations Managers
State median wage
$167,980
Middle 50% wage range
$125,550–$222,310
State employment
9,400
Projected growth
+5.7%
Annual openings
6,100
10th–90th percentile: $97,800–$300,800
25-1122Communications Teachers, Postsecondary
State median wage
$135,000
Middle 50% wage range
$102,290–$186,490
State employment
3,140
Projected growth
+2.1%
Annual openings
2,400
10th–90th percentile: $78,660–$218,880
27-3043Writers and Authors
State median wage
$86,480
Middle 50% wage range
$75,530–$127,870
State employment
8,390
Projected growth
-0.3%
Annual openings
11,900
10th–90th percentile: $56,730–$193,080
27-3041Editors
State median wage
$98,030
Middle 50% wage range
$71,090–$136,820
State employment
14,830
Projected growth
-1.1%
Annual openings
7,900
10th–90th percentile: $52,510–$173,590
27-3031Public Relations Specialists
State median wage
$85,030
Middle 50% wage range
$64,460–$121,180
State employment
32,710
Projected growth
+1.8%
Annual openings
23,000
10th–90th percentile: $49,550–$160,520
11-2033Fundraising Managers
State median wage
$135,870
Middle 50% wage range
$106,910–$192,290
State employment
5,430
Projected growth
+5.4%
Annual openings
3,700
10th–90th percentile: $84,730–$257,500
27-3099Media and Communication Workers, All Other
State median wage
$102,630
Middle 50% wage range
$63,530–$105,660
State employment
9,940
Projected growth
+3.9%
Annual openings
2,000
10th–90th percentile: $44,140–$170,410
13-1131Fundraisers
State median wage
$79,710
Middle 50% wage range
$62,360–$101,930
State employment
12,860
Projected growth
+5.5%
Annual openings
10,000
10th–90th percentile: $50,340–$131,720

Career wages and employment are BLS estimates for everyone working in each occupation in California; they are not earnings or placement rates for graduates of these programs. Wage ranges show the distribution across workers, not an entry-to-experienced career path. Growth and annual openings are national 2025–35 projections. BLS reports openings in thousands; DegreeVerdict displays the corresponding job count. These figures provide labor-market context and are not used in DegreeVerdict payoff or ROI calculations.

ALL REPORTING PROGRAMS

Compare every available outcome

Sorted by observed year-4 earnings. Open a row for its exact college-and-degree profile.

#CollegeCityMedian year-4 earningsMedian federal debt
1Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara$84,206$18,500
2University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles$75,864$17,702
3University of California, BerkeleyBerkeley$75,612$11,180
4California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo$75,223$14,928
5Chapman UniversityOrange$73,461$19,500
6University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara$72,976$13,018
7University of California, DavisDavis$72,778$13,000
8Loyola Marymount UniversityLos Angeles$69,144$19,500
9University of San DiegoSan Diego$68,913$25,000
10Sonoma State UniversityRohnert Park$68,833$17,129
11University of San FranciscoSan Francisco$68,592$23,250
12Woodbury UniversityBurbank$68,020Not available
13University of California, San DiegoLa Jolla$67,302$14,568
14University of La VerneLa Verne$66,891$22,500
15Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaMoraga$64,456$23,250
16San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco$63,731$15,000
17Westmont CollegeSanta Barbara$62,535$23,250
18California Lutheran UniversityThousand Oaks$61,653$21,897
19San Diego State UniversitySan Diego$61,389$15,675
20California Baptist UniversityRiverside$60,883$25,126
21University of the PacificStockton$60,666$20,485
22California State University, San MarcosSan Marcos$59,842$16,500
23California State University, SacramentoSacramento$59,404$15,000
24California State University, Channel IslandsCamarillo$59,332$13,750
25California State University, ChicoChico$58,391$17,098
26California State University, Long BeachLong Beach$58,137$13,953
27California State University, FullertonFullerton$58,082$13,000
28California State University, East BayHayward$57,708$18,250
29The Master's University and SeminarySanta Clarita$57,507$22,250
30California State University, Dominguez HillsCarson$57,478$17,043
31California State University, NorthridgeNorthridge$57,138$13,999
32San Diego Christian CollegeSantee$56,685Not available
33Concordia University-IrvineIrvine$56,388$25,000
34California State Polytechnic University-PomonaPomona$56,278$14,267
35California State University, StanislausTurlock$54,007$17,125
36Biola UniversityLa Mirada$53,781$21,937
37Notre Dame de Namur UniversityBelmont$51,994Not available
38California State University, FresnoFresno$51,788$15,000
39DeVry University-CaliforniaOntario$51,752$56,858
40California State University, BakersfieldBakersfield$50,989Not available
41California State University, San BernardinoSan Bernardino$49,171$15,750
42Point Loma Nazarene UniversitySan Diego$47,092$21,500

This is an observed-outcomes comparison, not a universal quality ranking. Missing and privacy-suppressed programs are excluded.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

A quick read on Communication and Media Studies in California

What do Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree graduates earn in California?

Across 42 reporting programs, the median observed earnings figure is $59,842 four years after completion.

How much federal debt is reported for these programs?

The median is $17,125 among the 38 programs reporting federal debt.

Which California colleges report the highest earnings for this degree?

The table compares the same federal field, credential and earnings year. Santa Clara University has the highest reported figure among the programs shown.