Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Design & Applied Arts

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $75-$110k

20 Ranked Colleges
1,613 Degrees Awarded
$19,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $75-$110k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 36,854 people earned their degree in design and applied arts, making the major the 34th most popular in the United States. 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.

For this year’s “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking, we looked at 20 colleges that offer a degree in design and applied arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality design and applied arts programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the design and applied arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our 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 Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $75-$110k

The colleges and universities below are the best for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $75-$110k.

Top 20 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $75-$110k) 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 $75-$110k list. Santa Rosa, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 19 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $75-$110k list, SRJC has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Santa Rosa Junior College is $9,366 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $75-$110k.

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 $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, Mt. San Antonio College landed the #2 spot on the list. Walnut, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.

Mt. SAC also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for Mt. SAC is $6,368 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Mt. San Antonio College

#3

College of Southern Nevada

Las Vegas, Nevada

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend College of Southern Nevada. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $75-$110k. This large school is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it awarded 55 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $75-$110k list, CSN has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $8,823 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend College of Southern Nevada.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at College of Southern Nevada

#4

Clover Park Technical College

Lakewood, Washington

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Clover Park Technical College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. CPTC is a public institution located in Lakewood, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CPTC, the school also landed the #4 spot 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 $13,351 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $75-$110k.

Full CPTC Design & Applied Arts Report

#5

Portland Community College

Portland, Oregon

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Portland Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Portland Community College is a large school located in Portland, Oregon that handed out 50 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Portland Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Portland Community College is $12,438 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $75-$110k.

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

Chemeketa Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. This medium-sized school is located in Salem, Oregon, and it awarded 8 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Chemeketa Community College also took the #16 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Chemeketa Community College is $8,950 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $75-$110k.

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

Truckee Meadows Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Truckee Meadows Community College is located in Reno, Nevada and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

Truckee Meadows Community College also took the #13 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Truckee Meadows Community College is $13,042 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Truckee Meadows Community College

#8

Bellevue College

Bellevue, Washington
#8 in overall quality

Bellevue College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Bellevue College is a fairly large public school situated in Bellevue, Washington. It awarded 31 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $75-$110k list, BC has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $12,403 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend BC.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at BC

#8

Mt. Hood Community College

Gresham, Oregon

Mt. Hood Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Mt. Hood Community College is located in Gresham, Oregon and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $75-$110k list, MHCC has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $9,574 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend MHCC.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at MHCC

#10

Spokane Falls Community College

Spokane, Washington

Spokane Falls Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #10. Spokane Falls Community College is a small public school situated in Spokane, Washington. It awarded 37 associates’s design degrees 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 estimated yearly cost for Spokane Falls Community College is $11,831 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $75-$110k.

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

#11

Los Angeles Trade Technical College

Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles Trade Technical College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. This fairly large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 29 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Los Angeles Trade Technical College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Los Angeles Trade Technical College is $10,436 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $75-$110k.

Full Los Angeles Trade Technical College Design & Applied Arts Report

#14 in overall quality

Lake Washington Institute of Technology ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. LWTech is a small public school situated in Kirkland, Washington. It awarded 3 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

LWTech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend LWTech is $13,846 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Lake Washington Institute of Technology

#13

Lane Community College

Eugene, Oregon

Lane Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #13. Lane Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Eugene, Oregon. It awarded 17 associates’s design degrees 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 estimated yearly cost for Lane Community College is $11,836 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $75-$110k.

Full Lane Community College Design & Applied Arts Report

#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 $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #14. Chaminade University of Honolulu is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Honolulu, Hawaii. It awarded 2 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Chaminade University of Honolulu also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend Chaminade University of Honolulu is $22,836 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $75-$110k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.9% 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%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Chaminade University of Honolulu Design & Applied Arts Report

FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles is a small private for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 318 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $75-$110k list, FIDM Los Angeles has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $45,466 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles

#16

Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, California
#6 in overall quality

Mount Saint Mary’s University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Mount Saint Mary’s University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

MSMU also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for MSMU is $30,470 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $75-$110k.

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 2.2% 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 full report on Design & Applied Arts at Mount Saint Mary’s University

#18

Platt College - San Diego

San Diego, California

With a ranking of #18, 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 $75-$110k list. Platt College - San Diego is a small school located in San Diego, California that handed out 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 estimated yearly cost for Platt College - San Diego is $31,563 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Platt College - San Diego

#19

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California

With a ranking of #19, Academy of Art University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 18 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Academy of Art University also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend Academy of Art University is $36,626 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $75-$110k.

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

#20

Platt College - Ontario

Ontario, California

Platt College - Ontario came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Platt College - Ontario is located in Ontario, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

Platt College - Ontario did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Platt College - Ontario is $29,199 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Platt College - Ontario

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

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.

Featured Performing Arts Schools

Find Schools Near You