2027 Best Value Other Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Far Western Region
[Other Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/design-and-applied-arts-other/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value other design & applied arts schools.
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2027 Best Value Other Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in other design & applied arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Other Design & Applied Arts Schools
California State University San Bernardino tops our 2027 list of the best value other design & applied arts schools in the Far Western Region. California State University San Bernardino is a very large public school located in the city of San Bernardino. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,088, while out-of-state students pay about $20,688. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $16,139 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from California State University San Bernardino generally make around $24,604. That is a strong return on a $16,139 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
California State University Dominguez Hills is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other design & applied arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,454 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,054. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $12,688 in student loans. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of California State University Dominguez Hills earn a median of $52,683 early in their careers. Set against $12,688 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Dominguez Hills admits about 93% of applicants.
California State University Sacramento is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other design & applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,018, with out-of-state students paying around $20,618. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $15,750. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $32,240 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in other design & applied arts will find it at California State University Long Beach, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,374, compared with $19,974 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $17,215. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $37,395. That is a strong return on a $17,215 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at San Francisco State University earned it the #5 place for other design & applied arts. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,846 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,446. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $34,845. That is a strong return on a $18,000 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #6 for value in other design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $20,000. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $57,615. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
San Jose State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value other design & applied arts schools. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. In-state tuition and fees average $8,410, with out-of-state students paying around $21,010. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. San Jose State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Oregon State University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value other design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $23,419 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Oregon State University generally make around $35,614. That is a strong return on a $23,419 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Oregon earned the #9 position for value in other design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,320 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $42,516. Students borrow a median of $29,050 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Oregon earn a median of $28,844 early in their careers. Set against $29,050 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Azusa Pacific University landed the #10 spot for other design & applied arts value this year. Azusa Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Azusa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,458. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $23,709. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $58,302. Set against $23,709 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Pacific Northwest College Of Art earned the #11 position for value in other design & applied arts this year. Pacific Northwest College Of Art is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Portland. In-state tuition and fees average $49,006. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $26,899 in student loans. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of Pacific Northwest College Of Art earn a median of $22,024 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,899 median debt. Pacific Northwest College Of Art admits about 75% of applicants.
Otis College Of Art And Design earned the #12 position for value in other design & applied arts this year. Otis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students from in state pay about $56,488 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Otis College Of Art And Design generally make around $31,172. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Otis College Of Art And Design admits about 82% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
