2021 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in California
Finding the Best Design & Applied Arts School for You
Design & Applied Arts is the #33 most popular major in California with 4,680 degrees and certificates awarded in 2018-2019.
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. 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 34 schools in California to see which ones offered the best programs 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 schools near , edit
2021 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 2021 rankings named Art Center College of Design the best school in California for design and applied arts students. Art Center College of Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the midsize 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. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $322, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Request Information
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Chapman University is a great place for design and applied arts students. Chapman is a moderately-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 $19,989. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $207.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Chapman University
Request Information
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means San Jose State University is a great place for design and applied arts students. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Design majors at San Jose State take out an average of $22,617 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $235, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Request Information
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Southern California. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in California list. USC is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles.
On average, design graduates from USC take out $23,021 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $239.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of Southern California
Request Information
The excellent programs at University of California - Los Angeles helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best design and applied arts schools in California. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public school with a very large student population.
While working on their degree, design majors at UCLA accumulate an average of around $20,800 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $216.
Full Design & Applied Arts at University of California - Los Angeles Report
Request Information
University of California - Davis did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for design and applied arts students. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the suburb of Davis, UC Davis is a public college with a fairly large student population.
On average, design graduates from UC Davis take out $13,333 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $138, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of California - Davis
Request Information
Interior Designers Institute 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. Located in the city of Newport Beach, Interior Designers Institute is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
While working on their degree, design majors at Interior Designers Institute accumulate an average of around $29,803 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $309.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Interior Designers Institute
Request Information
California State University - Long Beach did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for design and applied arts students. It came in at #8 on the list. Cal State Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach.
Design majors at Cal State Long Beach take out an average of $20,371 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $211, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at California State University - Long Beach
Request Information
California State University - Fullerton came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in California ranking. Located in the large suburb of Fullerton, Cal State Fullerton is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Full Design & Applied Arts at California State University - Fullerton Report
Request Information
California College of the Arts landed the #10 spot in the 2021 rankings for the best design and applied arts programs. California College of the Arts is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco.
After completing their degree, design graduates from California College of the Arts carry an average student debtload of $27,437. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $285, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Request InformationBest Design & Applied Arts Colleges in the Far Western US Region
Explore all the Best Design & Applied Arts Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Washington | 635 |
| Oregon | 502 |
| Nevada | 139 |
| Hawaii | 43 |
Design & Applied Arts Related Rankings by Major
One of 9 majors within the area of study, design and applied arts has other similar majors worth exploring.
Majors Similar to Design
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Fine & Studio Arts | 40,751 |
| Music | 26,968 |
| Drama & Theater Arts | 17,726 |
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 16,756 |
| General Visual & Performing Arts | 5,720 |
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.
Featured Schools
Request Info
|
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.