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# Best Journalism Programs in California (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Part of [Best Communication Colleges in California](/rankings/best-communication-colleges-in-california/)

This page ranks the 18 Journalism programs in California by the median earnings of Journalism graduates four years after completing. [University of Southern California](/school/university-of-southern-california/majors/) leads the list at $79,776, followed closely by [Chapman University](/school/chapman-university/majors/) at $79,135.

Across the listed schools, median earnings range from $79,776 to $25,194, with a median of $56,226. For 4 of the 18 programs, the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

Public institutions make up 61% of the list, with 11 schools alongside 7 private nonprofits. California State University-Long Beach ranks 5th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.

California State University-Northridge posts the lowest average net price at $7,021.

## The ranked list

18 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $79,776 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
|  | [University of Southern California](/school/university-of-southern-california/majors/) ranks 1st on this list, reporting [median earnings of $79,776](/school/university-of-southern-california/outcomes/) for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 2 | Chapman University · Orange, CA | $79,135 | $46,555 | $33,559 | 65.4% |
|  | [Chapman University](/school/chapman-university/majors/) [admits 65% of applicants](/school/chapman-university/admissions/) and posts median earnings of $79,135 for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 3 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo, CA | $70,829 | $16,665 | $7,529 | 31.3% |
|  | A public university in San Luis Obispo, [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/majors/) shows [median federal debt of $19,500](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/cost/) among Journalism completers who borrowed. |
| 4 | California State University-Chico · Chico, CA | $63,358 | $14,480 | $9,902 | 92.7% |
|  | [California State University-Chico](/school/california-state-university-chico/majors/) reports an [average net price of $14,480](/school/california-state-university-chico/cost/) and median earnings of $63,358 for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 5 | Biola University · La Mirada, CA | $59,925 | $31,495 | $27,144 | 74.4% |
|  | [Biola University](/school/biola-university/majors/) [ranks 1161st on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/biola-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, with median earnings of $59,925 for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 6 | California Baptist University · Riverside, CA | $58,821 | $26,285 | $22,298 | 84.9% |
|  | [California Baptist University](/school/california-baptist-university/majors/) reports [median federal debt of $26,000](/school/california-baptist-university/cost/) among Journalism completers who borrowed and median earnings of $58,821 four years after completing. |
| 7 | Pepperdine University · Malibu, CA | $58,801 | $58,098 | $50,560 | 62.9% |
|  | [Pepperdine University](/school/pepperdine-university/majors/) carries an [average net price of $58,098](/school/pepperdine-university/cost/) and a school-wide median federal debt of $23,510 across all of Pepperdine University's borrowers who completed. |
| 8 | University of California-Irvine · Irvine, CA | $57,492 | $14,251 | $8,123 | 28.6% |
|  | [University of California-Irvine](/school/university-of-california-irvine/majors/) [admits 29% of applicants](/school/university-of-california-irvine/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $57,492 for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 9 | San Francisco State University · San Francisco, CA | $57,260 | $12,278 | $9,341 | 96.4% |
|  | [San Francisco State University](/school/san-francisco-state-university/majors/) [ranks 51st on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/san-francisco-state-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, with an average net price of $12,278. |
| 10 | California State University-Long Beach · Long Beach, CA | $55,192 | $10,440 | $7,183 | 46.3% |
|  | [California State University-Long Beach](/school/california-state-university-long-beach/majors/) reports [median earnings of $55,192](/school/california-state-university-long-beach/outcomes/) for its Journalism graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $10,440. |
| 11 | San Diego State University · San Diego, CA | $53,997 | $15,364 | $9,910 | 36.2% |
|  | [San Diego State University](/school/san-diego-state-university/majors/) shows [median federal debt of $14,998](/school/san-diego-state-university/cost/) among Journalism completers who borrowed and median earnings of $53,997 four years after completing. |
| 12 | California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA | $53,351 | $7,021 | $4,905 | 93.5% |
|  | [California State University-Northridge](/school/california-state-university-northridge/majors/) [admits 93% of applicants](/school/california-state-university-northridge/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $53,351 for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 13 | California State University-Sacramento · Sacramento, CA | $53,145 | $9,338 | $6,501 | 94.0% |
|  | Ranks 13th on this list, [California State University-Sacramento](/school/california-state-university-sacramento/majors/) reports [median earnings of $53,145](/school/california-state-university-sacramento/outcomes/) for its Journalism graduates four years after completing, with a median federal debt of $20,000 among Journalism completers who borrowed. |
| 14 | Point Loma Nazarene University · San Diego, CA | $41,937 | $38,729 | $30,999 | 83.7% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in San Diego, [Point Loma Nazarene University](/school/point-loma-nazarene-university/majors/) has an [average net price of $38,729](/school/point-loma-nazarene-university/cost/) and an admission rate of 84%. |
| 15 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt · Arcata, CA | $39,178 | $13,171 | $8,483 | 98.2% |
|  | [California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-humboldt/majors/) [admits 98% of applicants](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-humboldt/admissions/) and shows a median federal debt of $20,000 among Journalism completers who borrowed. |
| 16 | San Jose State University · San Jose, CA | $30,771 | $13,760 | $9,730 | 84.6% |
|  | [San Jose State University](/school/san-jose-state-university/majors/) [ranks 23rd on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/san-jose-state-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, with median earnings of $30,771 for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 17 | University of La Verne · La Verne, CA | $26,739 | $20,161 | $20,151 | 71.2% |
|  | With an [average net price of $20,151](/school/university-of-la-verne/cost/) for families earning under $30,000, [University of La Verne](/school/university-of-la-verne/majors/) reports median earnings of $26,739 for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 18 | California State University-Dominguez Hills · Carson, CA | $25,194 | $8,615 | $7,303 | 93.3% |
|  | [California State University-Dominguez Hills](/school/california-state-university-dominguez-hills/majors/) posts an [average net price of $8,615](/school/california-state-university-dominguez-hills/cost/) and an admission rate of 93%, with 28 graduates in the earnings cohort. |

## How this list is ordered

Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Journalism graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in California appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after finishing the program. For 4 of the 18 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The gap between first-ranked University of Southern California and second-ranked Chapman University is $641, while the spread from the top of the list to the bottom reaches $54,582.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Journalism Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-journalism-programs/)
-   [Best Colleges in California](/rankings/best-colleges-in-california/)
-   [Best Journalism Programs in New York](/rankings/best-journalism-programs-in-new-york/)
-   [Best Journalism Programs in Florida](/rankings/best-journalism-programs-in-florida/)
-   [Top Journalism Programs in Georgia by Earnings](/rankings/best-journalism-programs-in-georgia/)
-   [Best Journalism Programs in Massachusetts](/rankings/best-journalism-programs-in-massachusetts/)
-   [Best Communication Colleges in California](/rankings/best-communication-colleges-in-california/)