What is your local CSU?
Do you have an AA-T, and if so in what subject?
I can’t really assess whether you should stick it out at Irvine.
But it would be helpful to know what your alternative(s) would be.
If you could do a spring transfer into your desired major, and end up with a less onerous commute that you’re facing now at UCI, maybe pulling the plug would make sense. You certainly sound like you want to bail out.
Also, how many transferable credits do you have? (You might still be able to take some communications classes at a quarter-system CC this fall.)
I’m not advocating for you to give up on UCI - just trying to assess what that plan would look like.