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Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California

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2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

55 Colleges
$8,222 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$27,013 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Visual & Performing Arts School for You

Visual & Performing Arts is one of the most popular subjects to study in California. With 22,397 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, it ranked 10th out of all the majors we track in the state.

With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

The Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 55 schools in California to see which programs offered the best value experiences for visual and performing arts students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. 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.

In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California

The colleges and universities below are the best value schools for visual and performing arts majors pursuing a .

Top 10 Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools

$1,238 Average Tuition & Fees

Our 2023 rankings named Los Angeles Trade Technical College the best value school in California for visual and performing arts students. Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the large 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 More…

#2

San Diego Mesa College

San Diego, CA
$1,144 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend San Diego Mesa College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California list. Located in the large city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a public college with a large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at San Diego Mesa College are $1,144 a year.

Full Visual & Performing Arts at San Diego Mesa College Report

Out of the 55 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, San Jose State University landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the large city of San Jose, San Jose State is a public school with a fairly large student population.

San Jose State undergraduate students pay an average of $7,852 in in-state tuition and fees each year.

San Jose State excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California list.

Full Visual & Performing Arts at San Jose State University Report

$6,995 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent programs at California State University - East Bay helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best visual and performing arts schools in California. Cal State East Bay is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Hayward.

Cal State East Bay undergraduate students pay an average of $6,995 in in-state tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from Cal State East Bay carry an average student debtload of $18,111.

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$6,846 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent programs at California State University - Long Beach helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best visual and performing arts schools in California. Located in the city of Long Beach, CSULB is a public college with a very large student population.

CSULB undergraduate students pay an average of $6,846 in in-state tuition and fees each year. On average, visual and performing arts graduates from CSULB take out $18,481 in student loans while working on their degree.

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$6,976 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #6, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on this year’s best value schools for visual and performing arts students. Located in the large suburb of Fullerton, Cal State Fullerton is a public college with a very large student population.

Cal State Fullerton undergraduate students pay an average of $6,976 in in-state tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, visual and performing arts graduates from Cal State Fullerton carry an average student debtload of $20,671.

Full Visual & Performing Arts at California State University - Fullerton Report

#7

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA
$7,988 Average Tuition & Fees

Sonoma State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California ranking. Located in the suburb of Rohnert Park, SSU is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at SSU are $7,988 a year. Visual & Performing Arts majors at SSU take out an average of $17,514 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Visual & Performing Arts at Sonoma State University Report

#8

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA
$7,304 Average Tuition & Fees

San Francisco State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California list. SFSU is a fairly large public school located in the city of San Francisco.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at SFSU are $7,304 a year. Visual & Performing Arts majors at SFSU take out an average of $17,462 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $312, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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$7,439 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #9, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well on this year’s best value schools for visual and performing arts students. Cal Poly Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cal Poly Pomona are $7,439 per year. While working on their degree, visual and performing arts majors at Cal Poly Pomona accumulate an average of around $18,873 in student debt.

Full Visual & Performing Arts at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Report

$7,043 Average Tuition & Fees

California State University - Northridge landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value visual and performing arts programs. CSUN is a fairly large public school located in the city of Northridge.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at CSUN are $7,043 a year. The average amount in student loans that visual and performing arts majors at CSUN take out is $16,816.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at California State University - Northridge

Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Washington 1,718
Oregon 1,672
Hawaii 196
Nevada 554
Alaska 60

Visual & Performing Arts Majors to Study

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
General Visual & Performing Arts 6,355
Arts & Media Management 4,788
Dance 3,288
Other Visual Art 912
Crafts, Folk Art & Artisanry 119
Community/Environmental/Socially-Engaged Art 10

Related Major Annual Graduates
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities 556,813
English Language & Literature 54,635
Foreign Languages & Linguistics 33,333
Theology & Religious Vocations 27,459
Philosophy & Religious Studies 19,993

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 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 Bonnielou2013.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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