2023 Best Value Graphic Communications Schools in California
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Graphic Communications School for You
Graphic Communications is the #93 most popular major in California with 1,036 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Value Graphic Communications Schools in California ranking. Our analysis looked at 9 schools in California to see which programs offered the best value experiences for graphic communication students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
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. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Best California Schools for Affordable Quality in Graphic Communications
Our analysis found California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo to be the best value school for graphic communications students who want to pursue a degree in California. Located in the small suburb of San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a public college with a fairly large student population.
In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo are $10,195 per year. The average amount in student loans that graphic communication majors at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo take out is $17,922. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $266.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo also did well on our Best Graphic Communications Schools in California list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Full Graphic Communications at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo Report
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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 California list. Art Center College of Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pasadena.
The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Art Center College of Design are $48,044 a year.
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The excellent programs at Cogswell College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best graphic communications schools in California. Located in the large city of San Jose, Cogswell is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cogswell are $21,784 per year. On average, graphic communication graduates from Cogswell take out $31,000 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $629, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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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 California. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized private for-profit school located in the large city of San Francisco.
The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Academy of Art University are $25,424 a year. Graphic Communication majors at Academy of Art University take out an average of $31,250 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $1,111.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend SAE Expression College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Graphic Communications Schools in California list. SAE Expression College is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Emeryville.
SAE Expression College undergraduate students pay an average of $25,672 in in-state tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that graphic communication majors at SAE Expression College take out is $34,006.
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Laguna College of Art and Design did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for graphic communications students. It came in at #6 on the list. LCAD is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Laguna Beach.
The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at LCAD are $33,600 a year. Graphic Communication majors at LCAD take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
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California College of the Arts came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Graphic Communications Schools in California ranking. California College of the Arts is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco.
California College of the Arts undergraduate students pay an average of $52,312 in in-state tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, graphic communication graduates from California College of the Arts carry an average student debtload of $26,899. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $292.
Full Graphic Communications at California College of the Arts Report
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With a ranking of #8, Laurus College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for graphic communications students. Laurus College is a small private for-profit school located in the small city of San Luis Obispo.
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Los Angeles Film School landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value graphic communications programs. LA Film School is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Hollywood.
The average amount in student loans that graphic communication majors at LA Film School take out is $29,645.
Request InformationBest Value Graphic Communications Colleges in the Far Western US Region
Explore all the Best Value Graphic Communications Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Washington | 150 |
| Oregon | 16 |
| Nevada | 0 |
| Hawaii | 113 |
More Graphic Communications Rankings in California
Graphic Communications Related Majors for Graphic Communication
One of 3 majors within the area of study, graphic communications has other similar majors worth exploring.
Most Popular Majors Related to Graphic Communication
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Audiovisual Communications | 6,229 |
| Communications Technology | 915 |
| Other Communication Technology | 164 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 9 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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