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Best Journalism Schools in California

California has 19 colleges offering Journalism programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 1,025 recent graduates. Graduates earn $32,774 on average within two years, roughly in line with the national average of $32,199.

School choice matters significantly: University of Southern California graduates earn $42,682 while California Baptist University graduates earn $21,508 — a $21,174 gap. Research each program's curriculum, employer connections, and career services before deciding.

19
Schools in CA
$32,774
CA Avg. Earnings
$32,199
National Avg.
201
Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Journalism in California

Public Schools (11)
$31,954
avg. 2yr earnings
Private Schools (7)
$34,080
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $2,126 more in early earnings on average, but typically cost more. Compare net price to determine which offers better ROI.

Journalism Schools in California, Ranked by Earnings

#1
U

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$42,682
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $44,188
Graduates: 79
Acceptance: 10.0%
#2
P

Point Loma Nazarene University

San Diego, CA · Private

$41,937
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 81.8%
#3
C

Chapman University

Orange, CA · Private

$39,153
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $36,779
Graduates: 31
Acceptance: 55.6%
#4
P

Pepperdine University

Malibu, CA · Private

$38,871
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $31,797
Graduates: 18
Acceptance: 49.9%
#5
C

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

$38,649
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $39,869
Graduates: 55
Acceptance: 29.8%
#6
S

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

$37,208
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $36,564
Graduates: 71
Acceptance: 96.2%
#7
C

California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public

$35,060
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $29,760
Graduates: 212
Acceptance: 47.1%
#8
C

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public

$34,847
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $30,757
Graduates: 42
Acceptance: 93.6%
#9
C

California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public

$34,298
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $37,827
Graduates: 74
Acceptance: 93.7%
#10
A

Ashford University

San Diego, CA ·

$32,658
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $30,487
Graduates: 74
Acceptance: N/A
#11
C

California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public

$31,676
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $27,428
Graduates: 208
Acceptance: 93.2%
#12
S

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public

$31,305
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $33,791
Graduates: 33
Acceptance: 34.4%
#13
S

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA · Public

$30,771
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 80.2%
#14
U

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public

$29,141
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $28,207
Graduates: 50
Acceptance: 25.6%
#15
B

Biola University

La Mirada, CA · Private

$27,669
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $31,624
Graduates: 35
Acceptance: 60.1%
#16
U

University of La Verne

La Verne, CA · Private

$26,739
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 48.5%
#17
C

California State University-Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA · Public

$25,194
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 91.3%
#18
C

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Arcata, CA · Public

$23,340
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $22,810
Graduates: 27
Acceptance: 98.8%
#19
C

California Baptist University

Riverside, CA · Private

$21,508
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $26,997
Graduates: 16
Acceptance: 73.6%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Journalism in California?
University of Southern California ranks #1 for Journalism in California with median graduate earnings of $42,682 within two years of graduation. There are 19 schools offering Journalism programs in the state.
How much do Journalism graduates earn in California?
Journalism graduates in California earn an average of $32,774 within two years of graduation. This is 2% above the national average of $32,199 for this major.
What is the hardest Journalism school to get into in California?
University of Southern California is the most selective Journalism program in California with an acceptance rate of 10.0%. The average acceptance rate across Journalism programs in the state is 64.6%.
Should I attend a public or private school for Journalism in California?
In California, private Journalism programs produce average earnings of $34,080 vs $31,954 at public schools. However, public schools typically cost less — consider net price relative to earnings when calculating ROI. There are 11 public and 7 private options in the state.

Other Popular Majors in California

Construction Management $81,700 Construction Engineering $81,610 Construction Engineering Technologies $76,343 Engineering, General $76,184 Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions $75,984 Manufacturing Engineering $73,841 Engineering-Related Fields $73,096 Computer Science $72,889
All colleges in California →

Journalism in Other States

New York Illinois Texas Connecticut Ohio Georgia Michigan Pennsylvania Wisconsin Oklahoma Colorado Kentucky View All →

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Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.