2023 Best Value Colleges for Graphic Design in the Far Western US Region
18
Ranked Colleges
1,593
Degrees Awarded
$27,300
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 Design Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Graphic Design is the 107th most popular major in the country with 8,710 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.
Across the Far Western US region, there were 1,593 graphic design graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking looked at 18 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in graphic design. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent graphic design programs, but they also cost less that 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.
One Size Does Not Fit All
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region” list to help you make the college decision.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region.
Top 18 Best Value Colleges for Graphic Design in the Far Western US Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Jose State University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region. Located in San Jose, California, this large public school awarded 19 diplomas to qualified ’s graphic design students in 2020-2021.
San Jose State also made our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend San Jose State University is $16,542 for Far Western US Region Graphic Design students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Graphic Design at San Jose State
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend College of Southern Nevada. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region list. CSN is a large school located in Las Vegas, Nevada that handed out 25 ’s graphic design degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our far western us region graphic design students list, CSN has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $7,019 for far western us region graphic design students per year to attend College of Southern Nevada.
Read full report on Graphic Design at College of Southern Nevada
Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona landed the #3 spot on the list. Cal Poly Pomona is located in Pomona, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 113 ’s graphic design degrees to qualified students.
Cal Poly Pomona also made our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend Cal Poly Pomona is $14,304 for far western us region graphic design students.
The low undergrad 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 California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fresno. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Fresno, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s graphic design degrees to 31 students in 2020-2021.
Fresno State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $6,230 for far western us region graphic design students per year to attend California State University - Fresno.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
Read more about Graphic Design at Fresno State
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Sacramento. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 44 ’s graphic design degrees in 2020-2021.
Sac State also made our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Sacramento is $11,178 for far western us region graphic design students.
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
University of Nevada - Las Vegas did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #6. This large school is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it awarded 56 ’s graphic design degrees in 2020-2021.
UNLV also took the #11 spot in our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $10,993 for far western us region graphic design students per year to attend UNLV.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Graphic Design at University of Nevada - Las Vegas
FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region list. FIDM Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 ’s graphic design degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our far western us region graphic design students list, FIDM Los Angeles has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles is $40,793 for Far Western US Region Graphic Design students.
Read more about Graphic Design at FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles
Central Washington University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Central Washington University is a fairly large school located in Ellensburg, Washington that handed out 19 ’s graphic design degrees in 2020-2021.
CWU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Central Washington University is $16,514 for Far Western US Region Graphic Design students.
Read more about Graphic Design at CWU
With a ranking of #9, Portland State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Portland, Oregon, this large public school handed out 83 diplomas to qualified ’s graphic design students in 2020-2021.
Portland State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $12,498 for Far Western US Region Graphic Design students per year to attend Portland State University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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 more about Graphic Design at Portland State University
Laguna College of Art and Design ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Laguna College of Art and Design is a private not-for-profit institution located in Laguna Beach, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 26 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
LCAD also made our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $35,944 for far western us region graphic design students 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 more about Graphic Design at Laguna College of Art and Design
Columbia College Hollywood did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #11. Columbia College Hollywood is a small school located in Tarzana, California that handed out 9 ’s graphic design degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our far western us region graphic design students list, Columbia College Hollywood has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $32,909 for far western us region graphic design students per year to attend Columbia College Hollywood.
Read full report on Graphic Design at Columbia College Hollywood
George Fox University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. GFU is located in Newberg, Oregon and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s graphic design degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our far western us region graphic design students list, GFU has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $30,839 for far western us region graphic design students per year to attend George Fox University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% 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%.
Read full report on Graphic Design at George Fox University
Art Center College of Design came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Art Center College of Design is a small school located in Pasadena, California that handed out 99 ’s graphic design degrees in 2020-2021.
Art Center College of Design not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Art Center College of Design is $46,054 for far western us region graphic design students.
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. 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%.
Read more about Graphic Design at Art Center College of Design
Platt College - San Diego landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Platt College - San Diego is a small private for-profit school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 33 ’s graphic design degrees in 2020-2021.
Platt College - San Diego also made our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #18. It costs about $26,014 for far western us region graphic design students per year to attend Platt College - San Diego.
Read more about Graphic Design at Platt College - San Diego
Otis College of Art and Design landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Otis College of Art and Design is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 ’s graphic design degrees to qualified students.
Otis College of Art and Design also made our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend Otis College of Art and Design is $45,026 for far western us region graphic design students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Otis College of Art and Design Graphic Design Report
California Institute of the Arts landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Valencia, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s graphic design degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at CalArts, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California Institute of the Arts is $56,876 for far western us region graphic design students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full CalArts Graphic Design Report
With a ranking of #18, Chapman University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Chapman 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 made our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend Chapman University is $44,198 for Far Western US Region Graphic Design students.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
Full Chapman University 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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