Best Communication and Media Studies Degrees in California by ROI
Colleges in California ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs in California
6
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$653,501
Across California programs
Average Annual Cost
$44,732
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Stanford University
Grad rate: 94.0% |
+$1,789,236 | $139,678 | $82,162 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
California State University-Fullerton
Grad rate: 69.3% |
+$618,986 | $74,626 | $16,767 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
University of Southern California
Grad rate: 92.2% |
+$473,164 | $74,126 | $84,678 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
National University
Grad rate: 44.0% |
+$461,328 | $68,778 | $37,116 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
San Diego State University
Grad rate: 78.1% |
+$371,066 | $63,289 | $27,357 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
California State University-Northridge
Grad rate: 56.1% |
+$207,226 | $54,393 | $20,317 | N/A | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)
A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Communication and Media Studies Degrees by State
Browse Communication and Media Studies programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.