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

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

104 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.

The Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 104 schools in the Far Western US Region to see which associate degree programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Design & Applied Arts program at each school on the list.

The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Colleges.

Our analysis found FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles to be the most popular school for design and applied arts students who want to pursue a associate degree in the Far Western US Region . Located in the large city of Los Angeles, FIDM Los Angeles is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Women make up 79% of the design majors at the school.

The average amount in student loans that design majors at FIDM Los Angeles take out while working on their Associate Degree is $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

The in-demand associate degree programs at Portland Community College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular design and applied arts schools in the Far Western US Region . Portland Community College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Portland.

Women make up 64% of the design majors at the school.

After completing their Associate Degree, design graduates from Portland Community College carry an average student debt load of $23,904.

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#3

Santa Monica College

Santa Monica, CA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Santa Monica College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in the city of Santa Monica, SMC is a public school with a very large student population.

Of the 61 students majoring in design at SMC, 25% are male and 75% are female.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Santa Monica College

#4

Seattle Central College

Seattle, WA

Out of the 104 schools in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Seattle Central College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Seattle Central is a small public school located in the city of Seattle.

About 74% of the students majoring in design at the school are women while 26% are male.

On average, design graduates from Seattle Central take out $13,099 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Full Design & Applied Arts at Seattle Central College Report

#5

Sierra College

Rocklin, CA

The in-demand associate degree programs at Sierra College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular design and applied arts schools in the Far Western US Region . Sierra College is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Rocklin.

Women make up 71% of the design majors at the school.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Sierra College

#6

College of Southern Nevada

Las Vegas, NV

College of Southern Nevada did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for design and applied arts students to get a associate degree. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the city of Las Vegas, CSN is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Of the 41 students majoring in design at CSN, 39% are male and 61% are female.

After completing their Associate Degree, design graduates from CSN carry an average student debt load of $13,029.

Read More…

#7

Interior Designers Institute

Newport Beach, CA

With a ranking of #7, Interior Designers Institute did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for design and applied arts students working on their associate degree. Interior Designers Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the small city of Newport Beach.

Of the 38 students majoring in design at Interior Designers Institute, 8% are male and 92% are female.

While working on their Associate Degree, design majors at Interior Designers Institute accumulate an average of around $22,905 in student debt.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Interior Designers Institute

Spokane Falls Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular 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 midsize city of Spokane.

Of the 37 students majoring in design at Spokane Falls Community College, 24% are male and 76% are female.

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

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Spokane Falls Community College

#9

Platt College - San Diego

San Diego, CA

Platt College - San Diego did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for design and applied arts students to get a associate degree. It came in at #9 on the list. Platt College - San Diego is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of San Diego.

Women make up 42% of the design majors at the school.

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

#10

West Valley College

Saratoga, CA

West Valley College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for design and applied arts students to get a associate degree. It came in at #10 on the list. West Valley College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Saratoga.

About 93% of the students majoring in design at the school are women while 7% are male.

Full Design & Applied Arts at West Valley College Report

#11

Bellevue College

Bellevue, WA

Bellevue College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. BC is a fairly large public school located in the city of Bellevue.

Women make up 90% of the design majors at the school.

Read More…

#12

Palomar College

San Marcos, CA

With a ranking of #12, Palomar College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for design and applied arts students working on their associate degree. Palomar College is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of San Marcos.

Of the 27 students majoring in design at Palomar College, 22% are male and 78% are female.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Palomar College

#12

San Diego Mesa College

San Diego, CA

San Diego Mesa College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. San Diego Mesa College is a fairly large public school located in the large city of San Diego.

Of the 27 students majoring in design at San Diego Mesa College, 15% are male and 85% are female.

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Los Angeles Trade Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for design and applied arts students to get a associate degree. It came in at #14 on the list. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Of the 25 students majoring in design at Los Angeles Trade Technical College, 24% are male and 76% are female.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Los Angeles Trade Technical College

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional popular schools for Design & Applied Arts students in the Far Western US Region that almost earned our Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region award.

Rank College Location
16 Foothill College Los Altos Hills, CA
17 American River College Sacramento, CA
17 Mt. San Antonio College Walnut, CA
17 Mt. Hood Community College Gresham, OR
20 San Diego City College San Diego, CA
20 San Joaquin Delta College Stockton, CA
20 Mt. San Jacinto College San Jacinto, CA
20 College of the Canyons Santa Clarita, CA

Best Design & Applied Arts Colleges by State

Explore the best design and applied arts schools 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 26 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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