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Best Value Graphic Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region

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2023 Best Value Graphic Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

11 Colleges
$33,807 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$32,721 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Graphic Communications School for You

Graphic Communications is the #124 most popular major in the country with 7,518 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.

There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools with offerings that you might find attractive.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value Graphic Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. This report analyzed 11 schools in the Far Western US Region to see which ones offered the best value programs for graphic communication students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.

This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.

For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.

2023 Best Value Graphic Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Value Graphic Communications Colleges.

Top 10 Best Graphic Communications Schools

Our 2023 rankings named California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo the best value school in the Far Western US Region for graphic communications students. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo are $28,105 per year. On average, graphic communication graduates from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo take out $17,922 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $266, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

In addition to its great value ranking, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Graphic Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region list.

Read full report on Graphic Communications at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

$48,044 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Art Center College of Design. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Graphic Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in the medium-sized city of Pasadena, Art Center College of Design is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Art Center College of Design are $48,044 per year.

Read full report on Graphic Communications at Art Center College of Design

#3

Cogswell College

San Jose, CA
$21,784 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Cogswell College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Graphic Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Cogswell is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of San Jose.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cogswell are $21,784 per year. Graphic Communication majors at Cogswell take out an average of $31,000 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $629, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Graphic Communications at Cogswell College

#4

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, CA
$25,424 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent programs at Academy of Art University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best graphic communications schools in the Far Western US Region . Located in the city of San Francisco, Academy of Art University is a private for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population.

Academy of Art University undergraduate students pay an average of $25,424 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, graphic communication majors at Academy of Art University accumulate an average of around $31,250 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $1,111.

Read full report on Graphic Communications at Academy of Art University

#5

SAE Expression College

Emeryville, CA
$25,672 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means SAE Expression College is a great value for graphic communications students. Located in the large suburb of Emeryville, SAE Expression College is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at SAE Expression College are $25,672 a year. On average, graphic communication graduates from SAE Expression College take out $34,006 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read More…

$34,900 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #6, DigiPen Institute of Technology did quite well on this year’s best value schools for graphic communications students. Located in the small city of Redmond, Digipen is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Digipen are $34,900 a year. On average, graphic communication graduates from Digipen take out $27,000 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $966.

Full Graphic Communications at DigiPen Institute of Technology Report

$34,218 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Hawaii at Manoa landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value graphic communications programs. UH Manoa is a large public school located in the large city of Honolulu.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UH Manoa are $34,218 a year. While working on their degree, graphic communication majors at UH Manoa accumulate an average of around $16,500 in student debt.

Full Graphic Communications at University of Hawaii at Manoa Report

$33,600 Average Tuition & Fees

Laguna College of Art and Design landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value graphic communications programs. Located in the rural area of Laguna Beach, LCAD is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at LCAD are $33,600 per year. While working on their degree, graphic communication majors at LCAD accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt.

Read More…

#9

California College of the Arts

San Francisco, CA
$52,312 Average Tuition & Fees

California College of the Arts landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value graphic communications programs. Located in the large city of San Francisco, California College of the Arts is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

California College of the Arts undergraduate students pay an average of $52,312 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that graphic communication majors at California College of the Arts take out is $26,899. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $292.

Read More…

#10

Los Angeles Film School

Hollywood, CA

Los Angeles Film School came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Graphic Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in the large city of Hollywood, LA Film School is a private for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.

On average, graphic communication graduates from LA Film School take out $29,645 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Graphic Communications at Los Angeles Film School Report

Best Graphic Communications Colleges by State

Explore the best graphic communications colleges for a specific state in the Far Western US region.

State Degrees Awarded
California 1,036
Washington 150
Oregon 16
Nevada 0
Hawaii 113

Graphic Communications is one of 3 different types of programs to choose from.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Audiovisual Communications 6,229
Communications Technology 915
Other Communication Technology 164

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 11 schools only.

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Auburn University College of Architecture, Design and Construction.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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