2023 Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California
Finding the Best General Visual & Performing Arts School for You
In 2020-2021, 1,179 degrees and certificates were awarded to general visual and performing arts students who went to a California college or university. This makes it the #84 most popular major in the state.
Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California ranking. This report analyzed 114 schools in California to see which ones were the most popular programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the General Visual & Performing Arts program at each school on the list.
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2023 Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California
The following schools top our list of the Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Colleges.
Top 15% Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools
Our analysis found University of California - San Diego to be the most popular school for general visual and performing arts students who want to pursue a degree in California. Located in the city of La Jolla, UCSD is a public college with a fairly large student population.
After completing their degree, visual arts graduates from UCSD carry an average student debt load of $16,250.
Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at University of California - San Diego
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Golden West College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California list. Golden West College is a large public school located in the large suburb of Huntington Beach.
Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Golden West College
The excellent programs at Academy of Art University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best general visual and performing arts schools in California. Located in the large city of San Francisco, Academy of Art University is a private for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.
On average, visual arts graduates from Academy of Art University take out $35,875 in student loans while working on their degree.
Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Academy of Art University
The excellent programs at Victor Valley College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best general visual and performing arts schools in California. Victor Valley College is a medium-sized public school located in the large suburb of Victorville.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - San Marcos. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California list. Located in the large suburb of San Marcos, CSUSM is a public college with a large student population.
While working on their degree, visual arts majors at CSUSM accumulate an average of around $15,000 in student debt.
Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at California State University - San Marcos
Otis College of Art and Design came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California ranking. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Otis College of Art and Design is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
While working on their degree, visual arts majors at Otis College of Art and Design accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $620.
With a ranking of #7, Hussian College-Relativity Campus California did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for general visual and performing arts students. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, Hussian College-Relativity Campus California is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
While working on their degree, visual arts majors at Hussian College-Relativity Campus California accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt.
University of Southern California came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California ranking. Located in the city of Los Angeles, USC is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.
Citrus College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular general visual and performing arts programs. Located in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Citrus College
Azusa Pacific University ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California list. Azusa Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Azusa.
After completing their degree, visual arts graduates from Azusa Pacific carry an average student debt load of $25,229. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $290.
Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Azusa Pacific University
Pasadena City College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California ranking. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a public school with a very large student population.
Full General Visual & Performing Arts at Pasadena City College Report
Gnomon ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California list. Gnomon is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Hollywood.
Young Americans College of the Performing Arts did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for general visual and performing arts students. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in the midsize city of Corona, Young Americans College of the Performing Arts is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Mt. San Antonio College ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California list. Mt. SAC is a very large public school located in the large suburb of Walnut.
Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Mt. San Antonio College
California State University - Channel Islands ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California list. CSUCI is a medium-sized public school located in the midsize suburb of Camarillo.
Santa Monica College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular general visual and performing arts programs. Located in the small city of Santa Monica, SMC is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Santa Monica College
Modesto Junior College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular general visual and performing arts programs. MJC is a fairly large public school located in the city of Modesto.
Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Modesto Junior College
Honorable Mentions
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 General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Columbia College Hollywood | Tarzana, CA |
| 19 | University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA |
| 20 | Riverside City College | Riverside, CA |
| 20 | Bakersfield College | Bakersfield, CA |
| 20 | California State University - Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA |
Best General Visual & Performing Arts Colleges in the Far Western US Region
Explore all the Most Popular General Visual & Performing Arts Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Washington | 13 |
| Oregon | 66 |
| Nevada | 20 |
Majors Related to Visual Arts
One of 10 majors within the area of study, general visual and performing arts has other similar majors worth exploring.
Majors Similar to Visual Arts
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Fine & Studio Arts | 37,413 |
| Design & Applied Arts | 36,301 |
| Music | 25,910 |
| Drama & Theater Arts | 17,341 |
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 16,778 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 27 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Sven Mandel / CC-BY-SA-4.0.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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