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2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k

13 Ranked Colleges
469 Degrees Awarded
$25,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor's in California For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 8,541 people earned their degree in graphic design, making the major the 105th most popular in the United States.

Across California, there were 1,366 graphic design graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 469 graphic design graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,907 and $21,546 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 13 colleges that offered a degree in graphic design. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality graphic design programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the graphic design program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Graphic Design Schools

The graphic 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 Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 13 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Graphic Design (Income $0-$30k) in California

#10 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fresno landed the #1 spot on the list. Fresno, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s graphic design degrees to 37 students in 2019-2020.

Fresno State also took the #10 spot in our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Fresno is $3,264 for California Bachelor’s Degree Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, 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.

Read more about Graphic Design at California State University - Fresno

#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Sacramento. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Sac State is a large school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 36 bachelors’s graphic design degrees in 2019-2020.

Sac State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Sac State is $6,819 for california bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.6% 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%.

Full Sac State Graphic Design Report

#3

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend San Jose State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. San Jose State University is located in San Jose, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 bachelors’s graphic design degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k list, San Jose State has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Jose State is $10,940 for California Bachelor’s Degree Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 Design at San Jose State

#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State Polytechnic University - Pomona. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cal Poly Pomona is a public institution located in Pomona, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 89 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k list, Cal Poly Pomona has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cal Poly Pomona is $8,596 for california bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 Design at Cal Poly Pomona

#5

Point Loma Nazarene University

San Diego, California
#11 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Point Loma Nazarene University landed the #5 spot on the list. Point Loma Nazarene University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 18 bachelors’s graphic design degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at PLNU, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $25,073 for california bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend PLNU.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full PLNU Graphic Design Report

#6

California College of the Arts

San Francisco, California
#4 in overall quality

California College of the Arts landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in San Francisco, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 43 degrees to qualified bachelors’s graphic design students in 2019-2020.

California College of the Arts not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend California College of the Arts is $28,555 for California Bachelor’s Degree Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Graphic Design at California College of the Arts

#7

Dominican University of California

San Rafael, California
#12 in overall quality

Dominican University of California came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in San Rafael, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s graphic design students in 2019-2020.

DUofC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Dominican University of California is $27,906 for california bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read full report on Graphic Design at DUofC

#8

Art Center College of Design

Pasadena, California
#1 in overall quality

Art Center College of Design ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Pasadena, California, and it awarded 67 bachelors’s graphic design degrees in 2019-2020.

Art Center College of Design also made our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend Art Center College of Design is $42,297 for California Bachelor’s Degree Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.1% 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 impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Graphic Design at Art Center College of Design

#9

Chapman University

Orange, California
#3 in overall quality

Chapman University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Chapman University is located in Orange, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 bachelors’s graphic design degrees to qualified students.

Chapman also made our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend Chapman University is $33,219 for California Bachelor’s Degree Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Chapman Graphic Design Report

#10

Laguna College of Art and Design

Laguna Beach, California
#6 in overall quality

Laguna College of Art and Design landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Laguna Beach, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 25 degrees to qualified bachelors’s graphic design students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k list, LCAD has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $34,635 for California Bachelor’s Degree Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend LCAD.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full LCAD Graphic Design Report

#11

California Institute of the Arts

Valencia, California
#8 in overall quality

California Institute of the Arts ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Valencia, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s graphic design degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

CalArts also took the #8 spot in our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $43,576 for california bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend California Institute of the Arts.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Graphic Design at California Institute of the Arts

#9 in overall quality

FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles is a small private for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 6 bachelors’s graphic design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k list, FIDM Los Angeles has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for FIDM Los Angeles is $37,103 for california bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full FIDM Los Angeles Graphic Design Report

#13

Los Angeles Film School

Hollywood, California
#13 in overall quality

Los Angeles Film School came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Los Angeles Film School is located in Hollywood, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 28 bachelors’s graphic design degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k list, LA Film School has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $30,421 for California Bachelor’s Degree Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend LA Film School.

Read more about Graphic Design at Los Angeles Film School

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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

Footnotes

  • *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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