2026 Best Value Commercial & Advertising Art Schools in California
[Commercial & Advertising Art](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/commercial-and-advertising-art/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong commercial & advertising art education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 26 schools to find the best return on investment for commercial & advertising art students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Commercial & Advertising Art Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the commercial & advertising art degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Commercial & Advertising Art Schools
Our analysis ranked College Of The Sequoias the best value for a degree in commercial & advertising art in California. College Of The Sequoias is a large public school located in the city of Visalia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,394, compared with $9,038 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,288 to complete the commercial & advertising art program here. Early-career commercial & advertising art graduates make about $37,749. That is a strong return on a $10,288 median debt.
Mt San Antonio College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value commercial & advertising art schools. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Students borrow a median of $9,384 to complete the commercial & advertising art program here. Early-career commercial & advertising art graduates make about $44,391. That is a strong return on a $9,384 median debt.
Pasadena City College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in commercial & advertising art, landing the #3 spot this year. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, compared with $10,924 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the commercial & advertising art program here. Commercial & Advertising Art graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Santiago Canyon College earned it the #4 place for commercial & advertising art. Santiago Canyon College is a large public school located in the city of Orange. In-state tuition and fees average $1,164, with out-of-state students paying around $9,612. Typical student debt for commercial & advertising art graduates is $5,500. Commercial & Advertising Art graduates of Santiago Canyon College earn a median of $34,100 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Cypress College one of the best values for commercial & advertising art. Cypress College is a very large public school located in the city of Cypress. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,150, with out-of-state students paying around $12,379. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,533 ten years after entry.
Orange Coast College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value commercial & advertising art schools. Orange Coast College is a very large public school located in the city of Costa Mesa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,392, while out-of-state students pay about $11,640. Commercial & Advertising Art graduates carry a median of $8,978 in student loans. Commercial & Advertising Art graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of $46,306 early in their careers. Set against $8,978 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Palomar College came in at #7 for value in commercial & advertising art this year. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,354 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,650. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,300 ten years after entry.
Chaffey College landed the #8 spot for commercial & advertising art value this year. Chaffey College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga. Students from in state pay about $1,184 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,120 for out-of-state students. Commercial & Advertising Art graduates carry a median of $6,952 in student loans. Early-career commercial & advertising art graduates make about $23,532. That is a strong return on a $6,952 median debt.
Foothill College came in at #9 for value in commercial & advertising art this year. Set in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,565, with out-of-state students paying around $12,590. Commercial & Advertising Art graduates carry a median of $11,595 in student loans. Soon after graduation, commercial & advertising art degree recipients from Foothill College generally make around $94,152. Set against $11,595 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Glendale Community College Glendale Ca came in at #10 for value in commercial & advertising art this year. Glendale Community College Glendale Ca is a large public school located in the city of Glendale. In-state tuition and fees average $1,191, with out-of-state students paying around $10,935. Students borrow a median of $19,800 to complete the commercial & advertising art program here. Median earnings reach $41,540 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fullerton College placed #11 among the best values for commercial & advertising art. Fullerton College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. Students from in state pay about $1,151 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,379. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,366.
Los Angeles Valley College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value commercial & advertising art schools. Set in the city of Valley Glen, Los Angeles Valley College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,238 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,572. Students borrow a median of $10,254 to complete the commercial & advertising art program here. Commercial & Advertising Art graduates of Los Angeles Valley College earn a median of $81,600 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,254 median debt.
Los Angeles Trade Technical College earned the #13 position for value in commercial & advertising art this year. Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,238, while out-of-state students pay about $10,572. Commercial & Advertising Art graduates carry a median of $14,833 in student loans. Early-career commercial & advertising art graduates make about $53,553. Set against $14,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rio Hondo College landed the #14 spot for commercial & advertising art value this year. Rio Hondo College is a very large public school located in the rural area of Whittier. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,388, compared with $9,884 for out-of-state students. Commercial & Advertising Art graduates carry a median of $15,510 in student loans. Soon after graduation, commercial & advertising art degree recipients from Rio Hondo College generally make around $95,666. Set against $15,510 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Academy Of Art University landed the #15 spot for commercial & advertising art value this year. Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. In-state tuition and fees average $30,736. Students borrow a median of $33,312 to complete the commercial & advertising art program here. Commercial & Advertising Art graduates of Academy Of Art University earn a median of $28,555 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked 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 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.
