2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k
12
Ranked Colleges
1,327
Degrees Awarded
$27,500
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Graphic Design Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.
In 2020-2021, 8,710 people earned their degree in graphic design, making the major the 107th most popular in the United States.
Across California, there were 1,327 graphic design graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Graphic Design Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 12 colleges that offer a degree in graphic design. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great graphic design 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 graphic design program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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 in California For Those Making $0-$30k”.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Graphic Design Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Graphic Design Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 12 Best Value Colleges for Graphic Design (Income $0-$30k) in California
Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Graphic Design Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, San Jose State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in San Jose, California, this large public school handed out 19 degrees to qualified ’s graphic design students in 2020-2021.
San Jose State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Graphic Design Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend San Jose State is $12,158 for california graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full San Jose State University Graphic Design Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fresno. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. California State University - Fresno is a large public school situated in Fresno, California. It awarded 31 ’s graphic design degrees in 2020-2021.
Fresno State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Graphic Design Schools in California” list. It costs about $3,859 for California Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend California State University - Fresno.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national 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 full report on Graphic Design at Fresno State
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Sacramento. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Sac State is located in Sacramento, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 44 ’s graphic design degrees to qualified students.
Sac State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Graphic Design Schools in California” list. It costs about $8,163 for California Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend California State University - Sacramento.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Graphic Design at Sac State
Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Graphic Design Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona landed the #4 spot on the list. Cal Poly Pomona is a large school located in Pomona, California that handed out 113 ’s graphic design degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k list, Cal Poly Pomona has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Graphic Design Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $10,349 for california graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend California State Polytechnic University - Pomona.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Full California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Graphic Design Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Graphic Design Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 25 ’s graphic design degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at FIDM Los Angeles, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Graphic Design Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend FIDM Los Angeles is $36,764 for california graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles Graphic Design Report
With a ranking of #6, Art Center College of Design did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Pasadena, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s graphic design degrees to 99 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k list, Art Center College of Design has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Graphic Design Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $40,209 for california graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Art Center College of Design.
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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Art Center College of Design Graphic Design Report
Otis College of Art and Design came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Graphic Design Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s graphic design degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.
Otis College of Art and Design also made our “Best Graphic Design Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend Otis College of Art and Design is $40,627 for california graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% 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 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 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 Otis College of Art and Design
Laguna College of Art and Design did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. LCAD is located in Laguna Beach, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 26 ’s graphic design degrees to qualified students.
LCAD also made our “Best Graphic Design Schools in California” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $33,241 for california graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend LCAD.
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 Graphic Design at LCAD
Chapman University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Chapman University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Orange, California. It awarded 24 ’s graphic design degrees in 2020-2021.
Chapman also took the #6 spot in our “Best Graphic Design Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Chapman is $34,946 for California Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Graphic Design at Chapman
Platt College - San Diego came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Graphic Design Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Platt College - San Diego is a private for-profit institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 33 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Platt College - San Diego also made our “Best Graphic Design Schools in California” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $24,636 for california graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Platt College - San Diego.
Read more about Graphic Design at Platt College - San Diego
With a ranking of #11, California Institute of the Arts did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Valencia, California, and it awarded 12 ’s graphic design degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k list, CalArts has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Graphic Design Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $52,801 for california graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend California Institute of the Arts.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full CalArts Graphic Design Report
Los Angeles Film School came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Graphic Design Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. LA Film School is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in Hollywood, California. It awarded 47 ’s graphic design degrees in 2020-2021.
LA Film School also made our “Best Graphic Design Schools in California” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $32,464 for California Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Los Angeles Film School.
Full LA Film School Graphic Design Report
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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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