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 Getting Aid

20 Ranked Colleges
1,613 Degrees Awarded
$16,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 Getting Aid” 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.

This year’s “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 20 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in design and applied arts. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent design and applied arts programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the design and applied arts program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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 Getting Aid”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important 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 Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 21 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Far Western US Region (With Aid)

#1

Clover Park Technical College

Lakewood, Washington

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Clover Park Technical College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid. This small school is located in Lakewood, Washington, and it awarded 24 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

CPTC also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $7,904 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students with aid per year to attend CPTC.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Clover Park Technical College

#2

Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa, California
#3 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 Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Santa Rosa, California, this fairly large public school handed out 19 diplomas to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.

SRJC also took the #3 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SRJC is $5,782 for far western us region associate degree design students with aid.

Full SRJC Design & Applied Arts Report

#3

Mt. San Antonio College

Walnut, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Mt. San Antonio College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid. Mt. San Antonio College is a large school located in Walnut, California that handed out 23 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Mt. SAC also took the #12 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mt. San Antonio College is $1,729 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students with aid.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Mt. San Antonio College

#4

College of Southern Nevada

Las Vegas, Nevada

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend College of Southern Nevada. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid list. CSN is a public institution located in Las Vegas, Nevada. The school has a large population, and it awarded 55 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CSN did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $5,806 for far western us region associate degree design students with aid per year to attend College of Southern Nevada.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at CSN

#5

Portland Community College

Portland, Oregon

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Portland Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. Portland Community College is located in Portland, Oregon and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 50 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Portland Community College, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $8,914 for far western us region associate degree design students with aid per year to attend Portland Community College.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Portland Community College

#6

Spokane Falls Community College

Spokane, Washington

Spokane Falls Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Spokane Falls Community College is a small school located in Spokane, Washington that handed out 37 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Spokane Falls Community College also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $6,763 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students with aid per year to attend Spokane Falls Community College.

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

#7

Bellevue College

Bellevue, Washington
#8 in overall quality

Bellevue College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. Bellevue College 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 yearly cost to attend BC is $7,870 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students with aid.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Bellevue College

Truckee Meadows Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. Reno, Nevada is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Truckee Meadows Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Truckee Meadows Community College is $9,348 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students with aid.

Full Truckee Meadows Community College Design & Applied Arts Report

With a ranking of #9, Chemeketa Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Salem, Oregon, and it awarded 8 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region associate degree design students with aid list, Chemeketa Community College has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Chemeketa Community College is $5,965 for far western us region associate degree design students with aid.

Full Chemeketa Community College Design & Applied Arts Report

#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 Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. This medium-sized school is located in Gresham, Oregon, and it awarded 29 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region associate degree design students with aid list, MHCC has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mt. Hood Community College is $7,211 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students with aid.

Full Mt. Hood Community College Design & Applied Arts Report

#11

Los Angeles Trade Technical College

Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles Trade Technical College landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. 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 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 $6,907 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students with aid.

Full Los Angeles Trade Technical College Design & Applied Arts Report

#14 in overall quality

Lake Washington Institute of Technology came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Kirkland, Washington, this small public school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region associate degree design students with aid list, LWTech has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $7,713 for far western us region associate degree design students with aid per year to attend Lake Washington Institute of Technology.

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

#13

Lane Community College

Eugene, Oregon

Lane Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid list. Lane Community College is located in Eugene, Oregon and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

Lane Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Lane Community College is $8,553 for far western us region associate degree design students with aid.

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 Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. Chaminade University of Honolulu is a private not-for-profit institution located in Honolulu, Hawaii. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 associates’s 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 estimated yearly cost for Chaminade University of Honolulu is $25,075 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students with aid.

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%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Chaminade University of Honolulu

#15

Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, California
#6 in overall quality

Mount Saint Mary’s University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. 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 took the #6 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Mount Saint Mary’s University is $29,214 for far western us region associate degree design students with aid.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Mount Saint Mary’s University Design & Applied Arts Report

FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 318 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

FIDM Los Angeles also took the #1 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend FIDM Los Angeles is $41,505 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students with aid.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at FIDM Los Angeles

#18

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California

Academy of Art University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. 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.

In addition to being on our far western us region associate degree design students with aid list, Academy of Art University has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $34,145 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students with aid per year to attend Academy of Art University.

Full Academy of Art University Design & Applied Arts Report

#19

Platt College - San Diego

San Diego, California

With a ranking of #19, 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 Getting Aid list. Platt College - San Diego is a private for-profit institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 75 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Platt College - San Diego did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $26,218 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students with aid per year to attend Platt College - San Diego.

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

#20

Interior Designers Institute

Newport Beach, California

Interior Designers Institute did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. Newport Beach, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associates’s design degrees to 36 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region associate degree design students with aid 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. It costs about $29,030 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students with aid per year to attend Interior Designers Institute.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Interior Designers Institute

#20

Platt College - Ontario

Ontario, California

Platt College - Ontario did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. Platt College - Ontario is a small school located in Ontario, California that handed out 15 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Platt College - Ontario also took the #21 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $23,287 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students with aid per year to attend Platt College - Ontario.

Read more about 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