2023 Best Value Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Far Western US Region
53
Ranked Colleges
5,956
Degrees Awarded
$15,200
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking.
In 2020-2021, 36,301 people earned their degree in design and applied arts, making the major the 36th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, design and applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,426 and had an average of $25,481 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Far Western US region, there were 5,956 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,100 and $26,477 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking analyzed 53 colleges that offered a degree in design and applied arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great design and applied arts programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the design and applied arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
The design school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region”.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for far western us region design students.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Far Western US Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Spokane Falls Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Spokane Falls Community College is a public institution located in Spokane, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 37 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Spokane Falls Community College is $6,108 for far western us region design students.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Spokane Falls Community College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Long Beach. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region. California State University - Long Beach is located in Long Beach, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 141 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our far western us region design students list, CSULB has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend CSULB is $10,054 for Far Western US Region Design students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full California State University - Long Beach Design & Applied Arts Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend San Jose State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region list. San Jose State University is located in San Jose, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 201 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
San Jose State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for San Jose State is $16,542 for Far Western US Region Design students.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full San Jose State Design & Applied Arts Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend College of Southern Nevada. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Las Vegas, Nevada, this large public school awarded 41 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for CSN is $7,019 for far western us region design students.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at CSN
Out of the 53 schools in the Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, San Francisco State University landed the #5 spot on the list. SFSU is a public institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 202 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SFSU, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SFSU is $14,459 for Far Western US Region Design students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at San Francisco State University
Los Angeles Trade Technical College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #6. This medium-sized school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 56 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $9,346 for far western us region design students per year to attend Los Angeles Trade Technical College.
Full Los Angeles Trade Technical College Design & Applied Arts Report
Western Washington University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #7. WWU is a public institution located in Bellingham, Washington. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 68 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
WWU also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for WWU is $17,070 for Far Western US Region Design students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full WWU Design & Applied Arts Report
Bellevue College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #8. BC is a fairly large school located in Bellevue, Washington that handed out 74 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Bellevue College is $8,343 for far western us region design students.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at BC
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Cal Poly Pomona is located in Pomona, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 113 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
Cal Poly Pomona did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Cal Poly Pomona is $14,304 for Far Western US Region Design students.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Cal Poly Pomona
California State University - Fresno came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. This large school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 48 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Fresno State is $6,230 for Far Western US Region Design students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Fresno State Design & Applied Arts Report
With a ranking of #11, California State University - Chico did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region list. This fairly large school is located in Chico, California, and it awarded 143 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $16,218 for far western us region design students per year to attend Chico State.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at California State University - Chico
With a ranking of #12, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Sac State is located in Sacramento, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 55 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Sac State is $11,178 for far western us region design students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at California State University - Sacramento
Lake Washington Institute of Technology came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Lake Washington Institute of Technology is a public institution located in Kirkland, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for LWTech is $9,157 for far western us region design students.
Full LWTech Design & Applied Arts Report
California State University - Monterey Bay landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. CSUMB is located in Seaside, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 32 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $13,597 for Far Western US Region Design students per year to attend California State University - Monterey Bay.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full CSUMB Design & Applied Arts Report
San Diego Mesa College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #15. San Diego Mesa College is a fairly large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 38 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for San Diego Mesa College is $5,573 for Far Western US Region Design students.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at San Diego Mesa College
University of Nevada - Las Vegas landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. UNLV is located in Las Vegas, Nevada and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 56 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Nevada - Las Vegas is $10,993 for far western us region design students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of Nevada - Las Vegas
With a ranking of #17, Washington State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Washington State University is a public institution located in Pullman, Washington. The school has a large population, and it awarded 36 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our far western us region design students list, Wazzu has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wazzu is $15,300 for Far Western US Region Design students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Wazzu Design & Applied Arts Report
FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles is a small school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 288 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our far western us region design students list, FIDM Los Angeles has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $40,793 for far western us region design students per year to attend FIDM Los Angeles.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at FIDM Los Angeles
Academy of Art University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 170 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Academy of Art University, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $36,143 for far western us region design students per year to attend Academy of Art University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Academy of Art University
With a ranking of #20, Oregon State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Oregon State University is a large school located in Corvallis, Oregon that handed out 114 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Oregon State also took the #14 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Oregon State University is $21,508 for far western us region design students.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Oregon State Design & Applied Arts Report
Walla Walla University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Walla Walla University is a private not-for-profit institution located in College Place, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 18 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Walla Walla U is $22,823 for far western us region design students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Walla Walla University
Central Washington University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region list. CWU is a fairly large school located in Ellensburg, Washington that handed out 19 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Central Washington University is $16,514 for Far Western US Region Design students.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at CWU
Portland State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. This large school is located in Portland, Oregon, and it awarded 83 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $12,498 for Far Western US Region Design students per year to attend Portland State University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Portland State University
University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #24. Seattle, Washington is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 38 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our far western us region design students list, UW Seattle has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Washington - Seattle Campus is $12,017 for far western us region design students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of Washington - Seattle Campus
With a ranking of #25, Cogswell College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Cogswell is a small school located in San Jose, California that handed out 29 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Cogswell College is $25,714 for Far Western US Region Design students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Cogswell
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