2023 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in California
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
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.
The Best Value Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in California ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 9 schools in California to see which ones offered the best value associate degree programs for design students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. 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.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Featured Design 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.
Best California Schools for Affordable Quality for an Associate in Design & Applied Arts
Our 2023 rankings named Los Angeles Trade Technical College the best value school in California for design and applied arts students working on their associate degree. Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Los Angeles.
The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Los Angeles Trade Technical College are $1,238 a year.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Los Angeles Trade Technical College
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend San Diego Mesa College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value 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.
San Diego Mesa College undergraduate students pay an average of $1,144 in in-state tuition and fees each year.
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A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Platt College - San Diego is a great value for design and applied arts students working on their associate degree. Located in the large city of San Diego, Platt College - San Diego is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Platt College - San Diego are $16,378 a year. 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.
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Out of the 9 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Interior Designers Institute landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the city of Newport Beach, Interior Designers Institute is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Interior Designers Institute are $20,250 per year. Design majors at Interior Designers Institute take out an average of $22,905 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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The excellent associate degree programs at Columbia College Hollywood helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value design and applied arts schools in California. Columbia College Hollywood is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tarzana.
In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Columbia College Hollywood are $26,175 per year.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Columbia College Hollywood Report
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FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles 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 #7 on the list. FIDM Los Angeles is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Los Angeles.
The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at FIDM Los Angeles are $32,645 a year. 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.
Full Design & Applied Arts at FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles Report
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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. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized private for-profit school located in the large city of San Francisco.
Academy of Art University undergraduate students pay an average of $25,424 in in-state tuition and fees each year. 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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New York Film Academy came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in California ranking. Located in the midsize city of Burbank, New York Film Academy is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at New York Film Academy are $34,090 per year.
Full Design & Applied Arts at New York Film Academy Report
Request InformationBest Value Design & Applied Arts Colleges in the Far Western US Region
Explore all the Best Value 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
Other Related Design 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.
Majors Related to Design
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.
- 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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