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Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in California

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2023 Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in California

81 Colleges
$23,224 Avg Salary
$17,798 Avg Student Debt

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.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in California ranking. Our analysis looked at 81 schools in California 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 colleges and universities below are the most popular for design majors pursuing a associate degree.

Our 2023 rankings named FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles the most popular school in California for design and applied arts students working on their associate degree. FIDM Los Angeles is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Los Angeles.

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.

Read More…

#2

Santa Monica College

Santa Monica, CA

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Santa Monica College is a great place for design and applied arts students working on their associate degree. SMC is a very large public school located in the small city of Santa Monica.

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

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#3

Sierra College

Rocklin, CA

Out of the 81 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Sierra College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the suburb of Rocklin, Sierra College is a public college with a large student population.

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

Full Design & Applied Arts at Sierra College Report

#4

Interior Designers Institute

Newport Beach, CA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Interior Designers Institute. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in California list. Located in the city of Newport Beach, Interior Designers Institute is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

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

#5

Platt College - San Diego

San Diego, CA

Out of the 81 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Platt College - San Diego landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the large city of San Diego, Platt College - San Diego is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

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

#6

West Valley College

Saratoga, CA

West Valley College ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in California list. Located in the large suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

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

#7

San Diego Mesa College

San Diego, CA

San Diego Mesa College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in California ranking. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a public school with a large student population.

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

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#7

Palomar College

San Marcos, CA

Palomar 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 #7 on the list. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

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

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With a ranking of #9, Los Angeles Trade Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular 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.

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

Full Design & Applied Arts at Los Angeles Trade Technical College Report

#11

Foothill College

Los Altos Hills, CA

Foothill College ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in California list. Located in the large suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a public college with a large student population.

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

Full Design & Applied Arts at Foothill College Report

#12

American River College

Sacramento, CA

American River College ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in California list. Located in the large suburb of Sacramento, American River is a public college with a very large student population.

Women make up 95% of the design majors at the school.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at American River College

#12

Mt. San Antonio College

Walnut, CA

Mt. San Antonio College ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in California list. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt. SAC is a public school with a very large student population.

Of the 21 students majoring in design at Mt. SAC, 43% are male and 57% are female.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Mt. San Antonio College

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in California award.

Rank College Location
14 College of the Canyons Santa Clarita, CA
14 San Joaquin Delta College Stockton, CA
14 Mt. San Jacinto College San Jacinto, CA
14 San Diego City College San Diego, CA

Best Design & Applied Arts Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Washington 532
Oregon 490
Nevada 110
Hawaii 19

Design & Applied Arts is one of 10 different types of programs to choose from.

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 28 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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