by our College Data Analytics TeamCollege Factual reviewed 13 schools in the Far Western US Region to determine which ones were the best for master's degree seekers in the field of design & applied arts. Combined, these schools handed out 217 master's degrees in design & applied arts to qualified students.
What's on this page: * Our Methodology
The design master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality design program can vary widely even among the top schools. When choosing a school we recommend considering some of the following factors:
The overall quality of a master's degree school is important to ensure a good education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To take this into account we consider a college's overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking which itself looks at a combination of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving their master's degree from the school. This is because one of the main reasons people pursue their master's degree is to enable themselves to find better-paying positions.
The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for design & applied arts students working on their master's degree.
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 Design & Applied Arts Master's Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list to help you make the college decision.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts
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The following list ranks the best colleges and universities for pursuing a master's degree in design & applied arts.
It is hard to beat University of Southern California if you wish to pursue a master's degree in design & applied arts. Located in the city of Los Angeles, USC is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in design & applied arts from University of Southern California
It's hard to beat University of California - Los Angeles if you want to pursue a master's degree in design & applied arts. UCLA is a fairly large public university located in the city of Los Angeles.More information about a master’s in design & applied arts from University of California - Los Angeles
Academy of Art University is a good decision for individuals pursuing a master's degree in design & applied arts. Academy of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit university located in the large city of San Francisco.
Students who graduate with their master's from the design program state that they receive average early career earnings of $43,701.
More information about a master’s in design & applied arts from Academy of Art University
It's hard to beat California College of the Arts if you want to pursue a master's degree in design & applied arts. Located in the large city of San Francisco, California College of the Arts is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Those design & applied arts students who get their master's degree from California College of the Arts receive $24,410 more than the typical design student.
More information about a master’s in design & applied arts from California College of the Arts
Art Center College of Design is a small private not-for-profit college located in the midsize city of Pasadena.More information about a master’s in design & applied arts from Art Center College of Design
Otis College of Art and Design is a small private not-for-profit college located in the city of Los Angeles.More information about a master’s in design & applied arts from Otis College of Art and Design
Located in the city of Long Beach, CSULB is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in design & applied arts from California State University - Long Beach
Located in the large city of San Francisco, SFSU is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in design & applied arts from San Francisco State University
LCAD is a fairly small private not-for-profit college located in the rural area of Laguna Beach.More information about a master’s in design & applied arts from Laguna College of Art and Design
Located in the city of Eugene, UO is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in design & applied arts from University of Oregon
Learn about other programs related to Design & Applied Arts that might interest you.
Get on the right path to the fast-paced, exciting world of video game art and design with this online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts - 3D Modeling & Animation
Learn the cutting-edge skills to become a player in the multimedia design world with this specialized online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts - Web Design
Gain a solid grounding in your online web design classes and exercise your creative muscle with this specialized online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
Explore the best design & applied arts schools for a specific state in the Far Western US Region .
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| California | 253 | 193 |
| Washington | 183 | 6 |
| Oregon | 158 | 18 |
| Nevada | 105 | 0 |
Design & Applied Arts is one of 10 different types of Visual & Performing Arts programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Illustration | 44 |
| Graphic Design | 39 |
| Visual Communications | 36 |
| Fashion Design | 33 |
| Other Design & Applied Arts | 30 |
| Game & Interactive Media Design | 25 |
| Industrial Design | 7 |
| Interior Design | 3 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 753 |
| Music | 642 |
| Fine & Studio Arts | 439 |
| Drama & Theater Arts | 390 |
| Arts & Media Management | 70 |
| General Visual & Performing Arts | 60 |
| Dance | 59 |
| Crafts, Folk Art & Artisanry | 12 |
| Other Visual Art | 12 |
