Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

54 Best Universities in California for Media Studies

We ranked the top 54 universities for Media Studies in California based on strict academic metrics. Based on 3.4M scholarly articles and 166.67M peer-reviewed citations, we reveal the best research labs driving innovation in Media Studies. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

Active Filters: Media Studies California Clear All

Ranking Methodology Notice

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Field of Study

Sub-Branch

1

Stanford

Stanford University

For Media Studies

#8 in United States #10 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

2

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

For Media Studies

#12 in United States #14 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

3

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

For Media Studies

#13 in United States #15 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

4

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

For Media Studies

#18 in United States #20 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

5

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Media Studies

#30 in United States #33 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

6

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

For Media Studies

#31 in United States #34 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

7

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

For Media Studies

#43 in United States #48 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

8

Davis

University of California – Davis

For Media Studies

#50 in United States #57 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

9

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

For Media Studies

#64 in United States #75 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

10

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Media Studies

#91 in United States #106 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

11

San Diego

San Diego State University

For Media Studies

#100 in United States #116 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

12

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

For Media Studies

#151 in United States #179 in North America

48% Acceptance

37,661 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

13

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

For Media Studies

#155 in United States #183 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

14

Los Angeles

Loyola Marymount University

For Media Studies

#171 in United States #200 in North America

45% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

15

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

For Media Studies

#235 in United States #268 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

16

Monterey

Naval Postgraduate School

For Media Studies

#456 in United States #498 in North America

23% Acceptance

837 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

17

Orange, CA

Chapman University

For Media Studies

#330 in United States #368 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

18

Redlands

University of Redlands

For Media Studies

#137 in United States #161 in North America

83% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1907 Founded

19

Pomona

California State Polytechnic University – Pomona

For Media Studies

#303 in United States #341 in North America

75% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1938 Founded

20

San Diego

University of San Diego

For Media Studies

#267 in United States #302 in North America

52% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

21

Turlock

California State University – Stanislaus

For Media Studies

#448 in United States #489 in North America

98% Acceptance

15,257 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

22

Claremont, CA

Claremont Graduate University

For Media Studies

#304 in United States #342 in North America

35% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1925 Founded

23

San Francisco

University of San Francisco

For Media Studies

#228 in United States #261 in North America

62% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

24

Bakersfield

California State University – Bakersfield

For Media Studies

#537 in United States #591 in North America

94% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1965 Founded

25

Stockton

University of the Pacific

For Media Studies

#469 in United States #514 in North America

71% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1332 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

26

Rosemead

University of the West

For Media Studies

#567 in United States #623 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1990 Founded

27

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

For Media Studies

#161 in United States #189 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

28

Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

For Media Studies

#392 in United States #431 in North America

10% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1515 Avg SAT

1946 Founded

29

Claremont, CA

For Media Studies

#308 in United States #346 in North America

7% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

30

Pleasant Hill

John F. Kennedy University

For Media Studies

#232 in United States #265 in North America

100% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1964 Founded

31

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

For Media Studies

#87 in United States #102 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

32

San Marcos, CA

California State University – San Marcos

For Media Studies

#449 in United States #490 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1989 Founded

33

Arcata

Humboldt State University

For Media Studies

#283 in United States #319 in North America

98% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

34

Whittier

Whittier College

For Media Studies

#525 in United States #576 in North America

81% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

35

San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo

For Media Studies

#379 in United States #418 in North America

31% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

36

Hayward, CA

California State University – East Bay

For Media Studies

#491 in United States #540 in North America

97% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

37

Merced

University of California – Merced

For Media Studies

#386 in United States #425 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

38

Claremont, CA

Scripps College

For Media Studies

#470 in United States #515 in North America

38% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1926 Founded

39

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

For Media Studies

#207 in United States #237 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

40

Carson, CA

California State University – Dominguez Hills

For Media Studies

#497 in United States #547 in North America

93% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

41

Fresno

California State University – Fresno

For Media Studies

#296 in United States #334 in North America

95% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

42

Claremont, CA

For Media Studies

#512 in United States #562 in North America

25% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1963 Founded

43

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

For Media Studies

#134 in United States #157 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

44

Los Angeles

Occidental College

For Media Studies

#328 in United States #366 in North America

44% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

45

Sacramento

California State University – Sacramento

For Media Studies

#238 in United States #271 in North America

94% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

46

San Rafael

Dominican University of California

For Media Studies

#586 in United States #643 in North America

83% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

47

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

For Media Studies

#129 in United States #152 in North America

85% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

48

Rohnert Park

Sonoma State University

For Media Studies

#301 in United States #339 in North America

93% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

49

Los Angeles

California State University – Los Angeles

For Media Studies

#261 in United States #296 in North America

91% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

50

Oakland

For Media Studies

#360 in United States #399 in North America

17% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1852 Founded

51

San Bernardino

California State University – San Bernardino

For Media Studies

#316 in United States #354 in North America

94% Acceptance

16,237 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

52

Malibu

Pepperdine University

For Media Studies

#297 in United States #335 in North America

63% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

53

Moraga

Saint Mary’s College of California

For Media Studies

#463 in United States #506 in North America

87% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1863 Founded

54

Chico

California State University – Chico

For Media Studies

#264 in United States #299 in North America

93% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1887 Founded