Compare 99 Communication, General. programs in the West. Average earnings: $47,560.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Communication, General. tells a different story. Across 99 programs, earnings range from $47,560 to $76,374—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
UC Berkeley's Communication program leads with graduates earning $76,374, well above the $47,560 average. But prestige isn't everything—Santa Clara University ($71,818) and USC ($63,317) round out the top three, proving that program-specific factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand alone.
Highest program earnings: $76,374
Strong outcomes with 85.7% acceptance
3.3% payment burden | Excellent
11.7% family burden | Good
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $76,374 | 284 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Good | |
| #2 | Santa Clara UniversityPrivate | $71,818 | 122 | $19,162 | Excellent | $56,271 | Challenging |
| #3 | $63,317 | 314 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Challenging | |
| #4 | University Of ArizonaPublic | $63,294 | 280 | $19,620 | Excellent | $30,126 | Challenging |
| #5 | Seattle UniversityPrivate | $62,478 | 35 | $19,883 | Excellent | $37,520 | Challenging |
| #6 | University Of San FranciscoPrivate | $61,461 | 97 | $23,000 | Good | $44,413 | High |
| #7 | $61,114 | 517 | $13,993 | Excellent | $26,465 | Manageable | |
| #8 | $60,820 | 323 | $13,000 | Excellent | $25,733 | Manageable | |
| #9 | $60,813 | 273 | $15,000 | Excellent | $20,820 | Manageable | |
| #10 | Loyola Marymount UniversityPrivate | $60,597 | 121 | $19,500 | Excellent | $58,361 | High |
| #11 | $60,521 | 64 | $18,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Challenging | |
| #12 | $60,326 | 160 | $16,544 | Excellent | $15,738 | Manageable | |
| #13 | $59,054 | 43 | $23,691 | Good | $58,000 | High | |
| #14 | $58,097 | 463 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Manageable | |
| #15 | $57,672 | 406 | $15,371 | Excellent | $19,732 | Manageable | |
| #16 | University Of San DiegoPrivate | $57,436 | 113 | $22,940 | Good | $56,559 | High |
| #17 | Pacific Lutheran UniversityPrivate | $56,775 | 25 | $22,578 | Good | $25,000 | Challenging |
| #18 | $56,211 | 180 | $19,500 | Excellent | $46,340 | High | |
| #19 | $55,413 | 19 | $25,000 | Good | $38,669 | High | |
| #20 | $55,039 | 239 | $15,500 | Excellent | $24,257 | Challenging | |
| #21 | Sonoma State UniversityPublic | $53,663 | 106 | $16,705 | Excellent | $27,986 | Challenging |
| #22 | University Of UtahPublic | $53,623 | 347 | $19,000 | Good | $18,886 | Manageable |
| #23 | Seattle Pacific UniversityPrivate | $53,580 | 29 | $24,000 | Good | $37,687 | High |
| #24 | Lewis & Clark CollegePrivate | $53,385 | 27 | $19,500 | Good | $33,625 | High |
| #25 | Regis UniversityPrivate | $53,344 | 34 | $25,000 | Good | $17,700 | Challenging |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
