2023 Best Value Graphic Communication Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k
9
Ranked Colleges
1,462
Degrees Awarded
$26,800
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Graphic Communication Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2020-2021, 7,518 people earned their degree in graphic communications, making the major the 122nd most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, graphic communications graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $28,311 and had an average of $25,483 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 1,462 graphic communications graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,422 and $32,648 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Graphic Communication Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 9 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in graphic communications. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent graphic communications programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the graphic communications program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Graphic Communication Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Graphic Communication Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for california graphic communication students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 9 Best Value Colleges for Graphic Communications (Income $0-$30k) in California
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Graphic Communication Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is located in San Luis Obispo, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 94 ’s graphic communication degrees to qualified students.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo also made our “Best Graphic Communications Schools in California” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is $12,173 for california graphic communication students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 Graphic Communications at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
Out of the 9 schools in the Best Value Graphic Communication Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Laurus College landed the #2 spot on the list. Laurus College is located in San Luis Obispo, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 ’s graphic communication degrees to qualified students.
Laurus College also made our “Best Graphic Communications Schools in California” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend Laurus College is $11,100 for california graphic communication students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Laurus College Graphic Communications Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Academy of Art University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Graphic Communication Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 222 ’s graphic communication degrees in 2020-2021.
Academy of Art University also took the #2 spot in our “Best Graphic Communications Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $33,484 for California Graphic Communication students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Academy of Art University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% 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 Academy of Art University Graphic Communications Report
Out of the 9 schools in the Best Value Graphic Communication Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Art Center College of Design landed the #4 spot on the list. Art Center College of Design is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Pasadena, California. It awarded 41 ’s graphic communication degrees in 2020-2021.
Art Center College of Design also took the #3 spot in our “Best Graphic Communications Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Art Center College of Design is $40,209 for California Graphic Communication students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Art Center College of Design Graphic Communications Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California College of the Arts. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Graphic Communication Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k. San Francisco, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s graphic communication degrees to 64 students in 2020-2021.
California College of the Arts not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Graphic Communications Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend California College of the Arts is $29,530 for California Graphic Communication students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full California College of the Arts Graphic Communications Report
With a ranking of #6, Cogswell College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Graphic Communication Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cogswell is located in San Jose, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 44 ’s graphic communication degrees to qualified students.
Cogswell also made our “Best Graphic Communications Schools in California” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for Cogswell College is $22,524 for california graphic communication students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 Cogswell Graphic Communications Report
Laguna College of Art and Design did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Graphic Communication Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. LCAD is located in Laguna Beach, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 ’s graphic communication degrees to qualified students.
LCAD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Graphic Communications Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for LCAD is $33,241 for California Graphic Communication students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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 more about Graphic Communications at Laguna College of Art and Design
Los Angeles Film School did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Graphic Communication Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Hollywood, California, this medium-sized private for-profit school handed out 35 diplomas to qualified ’s graphic communication students in 2020-2021.
LA Film School also took the #8 spot in our “Best Graphic Communications Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend LA Film School is $32,464 for california graphic communication students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Graphic Communications at Los Angeles Film School
With a ranking of #9, SAE Expression College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Graphic Communication Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. SAE Expression College is a small school located in Emeryville, California that handed out 11 ’s graphic communication degrees in 2020-2021.
SAE Expression College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Graphic Communications Schools in California” list. It costs about $26,667 for California Graphic Communication students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SAE Expression College.
Read more about Graphic Communications at SAE Expression College
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Notes and References
References
- 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 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
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