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Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region

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2023 Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region

14 Colleges
$23,224 Avg Salary
$17,798 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree School for You

Design & Applied Arts is the #36 most popular major in the country with 36,301 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.

Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. 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 Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 14 schools in the Far Western US Region to see which associate degree programs offered the best educational experiences for students. To come up with a school's ranking, we analyzed numerous factors related to post-graduation wages, the quality of education offered by the school, average accumulated student debt, and more.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region

Check out the design associate degree programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.

Top 10 Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools

#1

Interior Designers Institute

Newport Beach, CA

Our analysis found Interior Designers Institute to be the best school for design and applied arts students who want to pursue a associate degree in the Far Western US Region . Interior Designers Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Newport Beach.

Design majors at Interior Designers Institute take out an average of $22,905 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Full Design & Applied Arts at Interior Designers Institute Report

Out of the 14 schools in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, FIDM Los Angeles is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

After completing their Associate Degree, design graduates from FIDM Los Angeles carry an average student debtload of $16,621. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $491.

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#4

Platt College - San Diego

San Diego, CA

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Platt College - San Diego is a great place for design and applied arts students working on their associate degree. Platt College - San Diego is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of San Diego.

Design majors at Platt College - San Diego take out an average of $18,038 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $112.

Full Design & Applied Arts at Platt College - San Diego Report

The excellent associate degree programs at Columbia College Hollywood helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best design and applied arts schools in the Far Western US Region . Located in the city of Tarzana, Columbia College Hollywood is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Full Design & Applied Arts at Columbia College Hollywood Report

#6

College of Southern Nevada

Las Vegas, NV

College of Southern Nevada ranked #6 on this year’s Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in the city of Las Vegas, CSN is a public college with a very large student population.

While working on their Associate Degree, design majors at CSN accumulate an average of around $13,029 in student debt.

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Spokane Falls Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Spokane Falls Community College is a small public school located in the city of Spokane.

While working on their Associate Degree, design majors at Spokane Falls Community College accumulate an average of around $15,308 in student debt.

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#8

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, CA

Academy of Art University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for design and applied arts students to get a associate degree. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in the large city of San Francisco, Academy of Art University is a private for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population.

While working on their Associate Degree, design majors at Academy of Art University accumulate an average of around $32,177 in student debt.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Academy of Art University

With a ranking of #9, Los Angeles Trade Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for design and applied arts students working on their associate degree. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

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#10

Bellevue College

Bellevue, WA

With a ranking of #10, Bellevue College did quite well on this year’s best schools for design and applied arts students working on their associate degree. BC is a fairly large public school located in the midsize city of Bellevue.

Full Design & Applied Arts at Bellevue College Report

Best Design & Applied Arts Colleges by State

Explore the best design and applied arts colleges for a specific state in the Far Western US region.

State Degrees Awarded
California 3,773
Washington 532
Oregon 490
Nevada 110
Hawaii 19

One of 10 majors within the area of study, design and applied arts has other similar majors worth exploring.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Fine & Studio Arts 37,413
Music 25,910
Drama & Theater Arts 17,341
Film, Video & Photographic Arts 16,778
General Visual & Performing Arts 6,355

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 14 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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