2026 Best Value General Journalism Schools in the Far Western Region

1

Cerritos College
Norwalk, CA

Leading the list is Cerritos College, our #1 best value for general journalism in the Far Western Region. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, compared with $12,004 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,306 to complete the general journalism program here. Early-career general journalism graduates make about $29,495. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

2

College Of The Canyons
Santa Clarita, CA

Students looking for strong value in general journalism will find it at College Of The Canyons, which ranked #2. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,166, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete the general journalism program here. Soon after graduation, general journalism degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

3

Fresno City College
Fresno, CA

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Fresno City College earned it the #3 place for general journalism. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. Typical student debt for general journalism graduates is $7,234. General Journalism graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of $37,470 early in their careers. Set against $7,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

4

Mt San Antonio College
Walnut, CA

Students looking for strong value in general journalism will find it at Mt San Antonio College, which ranked #4. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. General Journalism graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans. General Journalism graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $44,391 early in their careers. Set against $9,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

5

Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, CA

A rank of #5 makes Santa Monica College one of the best values for general journalism. Located in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,156 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,708. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,193.

6

California State University Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA

California State University Dominguez Hills placed #6 among the best values for general journalism. California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public school located in the city of Carson. Students from in state pay about $7,454 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,054. General Journalism graduates carry a median of $15,886 in student loans. General Journalism graduates of California State University Dominguez Hills earn a median of $52,683 early in their careers. Set against $15,886 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.

7

Riverside City College
Riverside, CA

Riverside City College came in at #7 for value in general journalism this year. Located in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,428, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Students borrow a median of $8,767 to complete the general journalism program here. Early-career general journalism graduates make about $37,102. Set against $8,767 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

8

Orange Coast College
Costa Mesa, CA

Orange Coast College landed the #8 spot for general journalism value this year. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,392, compared with $11,640 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general journalism graduates is $8,978. Early-career general journalism graduates make about $46,306. Set against $8,978 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

9

Sierra College
Rocklin, CA

Sierra College placed #9 among the best values for general journalism. Located in the suburb of Rocklin, Sierra College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,446 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $12,733 to complete the general journalism program here. General Journalism graduates of Sierra College earn a median of $29,214 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,733 median debt.

10

Long Beach City College
Long Beach, CA

Long Beach City College placed #10 among the best values for general journalism. Long Beach City College is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. In-state tuition and fees average $1,556, while out-of-state students pay about $12,544. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete the general journalism program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,870. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.

11

El Camino Community College District
Torrance, CA

El Camino Community College District earned the #11 position for value in general journalism this year. Set in the suburb of Torrance, El Camino Community College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,144, with out-of-state students paying around $7,630. Median earnings reach $41,589 ten years out.

12

California State University Fresno
Fresno, CA

California State University Fresno ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value general journalism schools. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,341 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,941 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,598 to complete the general journalism program here. Soon after graduation, general journalism degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $49,502. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.

13

California State University Northridge
Northridge, CA

California State University Northridge placed #13 among the best values for general journalism. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,458, while out-of-state students pay about $20,058. General Journalism graduates carry a median of $15,480 in student loans. Early-career general journalism graduates make about $30,564. Set against $15,480 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Northridge admits about 93% of applicants.

14

College Of Southern Nevada
Las Vegas, NV

College Of Southern Nevada ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value general journalism schools. Set in the city of Las Vegas, College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,358 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,024. General Journalism graduates carry a median of $9,980 in student loans. General Journalism graduates of College Of Southern Nevada earn a median of $35,850 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

15

California State University Long Beach
Long Beach, CA

California State University Long Beach earned the #15 position for value in general journalism this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,374, compared with $19,974 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general journalism graduates is $15,000. General Journalism graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $28,844 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.

16

California State University Sacramento
Sacramento, CA

California State University Sacramento landed the #16 spot for general journalism value this year. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,018, compared with $20,618 for out-of-state students. General Journalism graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Early-career general journalism graduates make about $30,644. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.

17

Fullerton College
Fullerton, CA

Fullerton College earned the #17 position for value in general journalism this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, Fullerton College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,151, with out-of-state students paying around $12,379. Median earnings reach $43,366 ten years out.

18

San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA

San Francisco State University came in at #18 for value in general journalism this year. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,846, with out-of-state students paying around $20,446. General Journalism graduates carry a median of $16,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general journalism degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $31,788. That is a strong return on a $16,875 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.

19

University Of California Irvine
Irvine, CA

University Of California Irvine placed #19 among the best values for general journalism. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,752, compared with $46,640 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,900 to complete the general journalism program here. Soon after graduation, general journalism degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $50,958. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.

20

University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA

University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value general journalism schools. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. General Journalism graduates carry a median of $13,654 in student loans. Early-career general journalism graduates make about $33,250. That is a strong return on a $13,654 median debt. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.

21

San Jose State University
San Jose, CA

San Jose State University landed the #21 spot for general journalism value this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,410, compared with $21,010 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. The acceptance rate is 85%.

22

University Of Hawaii At Manoa
Honolulu, HI

University Of Hawaii At Manoa ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value general journalism schools. Set in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,186, with out-of-state students paying around $34,218. General Journalism graduates carry a median of $20,577 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general journalism degree recipients from University Of Hawaii At Manoa generally make around $48,181. Set against $20,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.

23

Humboldt State University
Arcata, CA

Humboldt State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value general journalism schools. Set in the town of Arcata, Humboldt State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,397, with out-of-state students paying around $20,997. General Journalism graduates carry a median of $22,300 in student loans. Early-career general journalism graduates make about $29,686. That is a strong return on a $22,300 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.

24

Washington State University
Pullman, WA

Washington State University came in at #24 for value in general journalism this year. Located in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,391, with out-of-state students paying around $29,950. Typical student debt for general journalism graduates is $22,506. Early-career general journalism graduates make about $36,273. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.

25

California State University Chico
Chico, CA

California State University Chico earned the #25 position for value in general journalism this year. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,472, compared with $21,072 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general journalism graduates is $18,750. Early-career general journalism graduates make about $35,668. Set against $18,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.