2023 Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in California
Finding the Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree School for You
With 3,773 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, design and applied arts is the #34 most popular major in California.
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right 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.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in California to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 9 schools in California 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.
Featured Design & Applied Arts Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts
Translate your creative ideas through concept, design and digital media with a bachelor's in graphic design online from Southern New Hampshire University.
Take the first step toward a career of visual expression and doing what you love with this online associate degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Learn to create a striking portfolio and hone the skills you need to succeed in the world of professional photography with this online digital photography degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
2023 Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in California
Check out the design associate degree programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.
Top California Schools for an Associate in Design & Applied Arts
Our 2023 rankings named Interior Designers Institute the best school in California for design and applied arts students working on their associate degree. Located in the city of Newport Beach, Interior Designers Institute is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
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
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A rank of #3 on this year’s list means FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles is a great place for design and applied arts students working on their associate degree. FIDM Los Angeles is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles.
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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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. Located in the city of San Diego, Platt College - San Diego is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
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
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Columbia College Hollywood. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in California list. Columbia College Hollywood is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Tarzana.
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Academy of Art University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in California ranking. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized private for-profit school located in the large city of San Francisco.
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
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With a ranking of #7, 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. Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Los Angeles.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Los Angeles Trade Technical College
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San Diego Mesa College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in California list. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a public school with a large student population.
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New York Film Academy ranked #9 on this year’s Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in California list. Located in the midsize city of Burbank, New York Film Academy is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
Request InformationBest Design & Applied Arts Colleges in the Far Western US Region
Explore all the Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Washington | 532 |
| Oregon | 490 |
| Nevada | 110 |
| Hawaii | 19 |
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings in California
Related Programs
Learn about other programs related to Design & Applied Arts that might interest you.
Take the first step toward a career of visual expression and doing what you love with this online associate degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Learn to create a striking portfolio and hone the skills you need to succeed in the world of professional photography with this online digital photography degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Get on the right path to the fast-paced, exciting world of video game art and design with this online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
Design & Applied Arts Related Rankings by Major
Design & Applied Arts is one of 10 different types of programs to choose from.
Most Popular Majors Related to Design
| 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 9 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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