2023 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in California
Finding the Best Design & Applied Arts 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.
The Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in California ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 39 schools in California to see which ones offered the best programs for students.
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 Schools in California
The following schools top our list of the Best Design & Applied Arts Colleges.
Top 10 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools
Our 2023 rankings named Gnomon the best school in California for design and applied arts students. Located in the large city of Hollywood, Gnomon is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
The average amount in student loans that design majors at Gnomon take out is $41,000.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Gnomon
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The excellent programs at University of California - Davis helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best design and applied arts schools in California. Located in the suburb of Davis, UC Davis is a public college with a very large student population.
Design majors at UC Davis take out an average of $15,357 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $319.
Full Design & Applied Arts at University of California - Davis Report
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A rank of #3 on this year’s list means University of California - Los Angeles is a great place for design and applied arts students. Located in the city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public college with a very large student population.
The average amount in student loans that design majors at UCLA take out is $16,500.
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Out of the 39 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, San Jose State University landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State is a public college with a very large student population.
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A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Chapman University is a great place for design and applied arts students. Chapman is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Orange.
After completing their degree, design graduates from Chapman carry an average student debtload of $22,030.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Chapman University
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Cogswell College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in California ranking. Located in the large city of San Jose, Cogswell is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
While working on their degree, design majors at Cogswell accumulate an average of around $31,000 in student debt.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Cogswell College Report
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University of San Francisco did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for design and applied arts students. It came in at #7 on the list. USFCA is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of San Francisco.
On average, design graduates from USFCA take out $25,374 in student loans while working on their degree.
Full Design & Applied Arts at University of San Francisco Report
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Otis College of Art and Design came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in California ranking. Otis College of Art and Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles.
The average amount in student loans that design majors at Otis College of Art and Design take out is $27,000. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $711.
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Art Center College of Design landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best design and applied arts programs. Art Center College of Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Pasadena.
While working on their degree, design majors at Art Center College of Design accumulate an average of around $31,000 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $878.
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University of Southern California landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best design and applied arts programs. USC is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Los Angeles.
Design majors at USC take out an average of $18,275 in student loans while working on their egree.
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 25 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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