Best Master's Degrees in Communication in California

Comms & Media Studies master’s graduates in California earn a weighted average salary of $67,016 3 years after graduation, placing them in the top 25% nationally.

Our comms & media studies graduate rankings cover 8 of the 14 programs available in California, accounting for 83% of total student graduates. We only include schools with sufficient earnings and/or debt data.

Cost of living is not considered when comparing states.

Interested in how we rank schools? Review our ranking methodology.

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Earnings
Debt
Rankings
Ranking methodology
#1 in California | #1 in Communications nationally
Economic score 0.26

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $74,626

Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.3

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $21,500

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#2 in California | #7 in Communications nationally

Stanford University

Stanford, California

Economic score 0.40

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $81,702

Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.6

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $45,905

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#3 in California | #21 in Communications nationally

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

Economic score 0.62

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $63,289

Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.6

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $38,096

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#4 in California | #23 in Communications nationally
Economic score 0.66

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $54,393

Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.5

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $29,171

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#5 in California | #33 in Communications nationally

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

Economic score 0.80

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $74,126

Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.9

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $69,720

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#6 in California | #44 in Communications nationally
Economic score 1.13

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $44,971

Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.8

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $34,261

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#7 in California | #45 in Communications nationally
Economic score 1.14

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $46,087

Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.8

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $36,068

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#8 in California | #46 in Communications nationally

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

Economic score 1.16

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $52,941

Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.9

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $48,953

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

San Jose State University

San Jose, California

Economic score N/A

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $66,077

Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings N/A

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt N/A

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

How long does it take to pay down debt in comms & media studies in California?

Years

Under a year

The average debt accrued from a master's degree in comms & media studies is covered by average graduate earnings in under a year.

How much do graduates with a master's degree in comms & media studies earn in California?

Salary

$67,016

The median master's degree in comms & media studies graduate earns $67,016 3 years after graduating.

How much does a master's degree in comms & media studies cost in California?

Net cost

$22,504

The average annual cost of a master's degree in comms & media studies is $22,504. This is the net cost and considers only students that have received Title IV funds.