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2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k

20 Ranked Colleges
1,613 Degrees Awarded
$24,335 Avg Salary
Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k

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 Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Design & Applied Arts is the 34th most popular major in the country with 36,854 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, design and applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $29,542 and had an average of $27,114 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Far Western US region, there were 6,083 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,399 and $27,675 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 1,613 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,689 and $18,419 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 20 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in design and applied arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great design and applied arts programs and 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 design and applied arts program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The 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 Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 21 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $48-$75k) in the Far Western US Region

#1

Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa, California
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Santa Rosa Junior College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Santa Rosa Junior College is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Rosa, California. It awarded 19 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SRJC, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $8,027 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend SRJC.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Santa Rosa Junior College

#2

Mt. San Antonio College

Walnut, California

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Mt. San Antonio College landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Walnut, California, and it awarded 23 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k list, Mt. SAC has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $4,374 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Mt. San Antonio College.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Mt. SAC

#3

Clover Park Technical College

Lakewood, Washington

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Clover Park Technical College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Lakewood, Washington, this small public school awarded 24 diplomas to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k list, CPTC has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Clover Park Technical College is $10,363 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at CPTC

#4

College of Southern Nevada

Las Vegas, Nevada

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, College of Southern Nevada landed the #4 spot on the list. CSN is a large school located in Las Vegas, Nevada that handed out 55 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

CSN not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $7,529 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend College of Southern Nevada.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at College of Southern Nevada

#5

Bellevue College

Bellevue, Washington
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Bellevue College landed the #5 spot on the list. BC is located in Bellevue, Washington and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 31 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

BC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Bellevue College is $10,173 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at BC

#6

Portland Community College

Portland, Oregon

Portland Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Portland Community College is a public institution located in Portland, Oregon. The school has a large population, and it awarded 50 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k list, Portland Community College has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Portland Community College is $10,347 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Portland Community College

#7

Spokane Falls Community College

Spokane, Washington

With a ranking of #7, Spokane Falls Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Spokane, Washington is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 37 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Spokane Falls Community College, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Spokane Falls Community College is $9,182 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Spokane Falls Community College

#8

Los Angeles Trade Technical College

Los Angeles, California

With a ranking of #8, Los Angeles Trade Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a fairly large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 29 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Los Angeles Trade Technical College also took the #9 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Los Angeles Trade Technical College is $8,211 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Los Angeles Trade Technical College

Chemeketa Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Salem, Oregon, this medium-sized public school awarded 8 degrees to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.

Chemeketa Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Chemeketa Community College is $7,097 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Chemeketa Community College

#10

Mt. Hood Community College

Gresham, Oregon

Mt. Hood Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #10. Gresham, Oregon is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MHCC, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $8,647 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend MHCC.

Full Mt. Hood Community College Design & Applied Arts Report

Truckee Meadows Community College landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Reno, Nevada, and it awarded 3 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Truckee Meadows Community College, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Truckee Meadows Community College is $10,968 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Truckee Meadows Community College

#12

Lane Community College

Eugene, Oregon

Lane Community College landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Eugene, Oregon is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lane Community College, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lane Community College is $8,602 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Lane Community College

#14 in overall quality

Lake Washington Institute of Technology landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Lake Washington Institute of Technology is a public institution located in Kirkland, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

LWTech also took the #14 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend LWTech is $9,490 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Lake Washington Institute of Technology

#10 in overall quality

Chaminade University of Honolulu did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #14. Chaminade University of Honolulu is located in Honolulu, Hawaii and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

Chaminade University of Honolulu not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Chaminade University of Honolulu is $20,692 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Chaminade University of Honolulu Design & Applied Arts Report

With a ranking of #15, FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associates’s design degrees to 318 students in 2019-2020.

FIDM Los Angeles also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $42,720 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend FIDM Los Angeles.

Full FIDM Los Angeles Design & Applied Arts Report

#17

Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, California
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, Mount Saint Mary’s University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Mount Saint Mary’s University is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k list, MSMU has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mount Saint Mary’s University is $26,880 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Mount Saint Mary’s University

#18

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California

Academy of Art University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. San Francisco, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associates’s design degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.

Academy of Art University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Academy of Art University is $38,617 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Academy of Art University

#19

Platt College - Ontario

Ontario, California

Platt College - Ontario landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Ontario, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associates’s design degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

Platt College - Ontario also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #21. The estimated yearly cost for Platt College - Ontario is $20,834 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Platt College - Ontario Design & Applied Arts Report

#20

Platt College - San Diego

San Diego, California

With a ranking of #20, Platt College - San Diego did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Platt College - San Diego is a small private for-profit school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 75 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Platt College - San Diego, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Platt College - San Diego is $28,435 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Platt College - San Diego Design & Applied Arts Report

#21

Interior Designers Institute

Newport Beach, California

Interior Designers Institute came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This small school is located in Newport Beach, California, and it awarded 36 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k list, Interior Designers Institute has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Interior Designers Institute is $30,383 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Interior Designers Institute Design & Applied Arts 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

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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