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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Far Western US Region

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

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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” ranking looked at 21 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”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique 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

The colleges and universities below are the best for far western us region associate degree design students.

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

#1

Clover Park Technical College

Lakewood, Washington

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Clover Park Technical College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Lakewood, Washington, this small public school awarded 24 degrees to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.

CPTC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Clover Park Technical College is $7,904 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at CPTC

#2

Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa, California
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Santa Rosa Junior College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region. This fairly large school is located in Santa Rosa, California, and it awarded 19 associates’s design degrees 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 Santa Rosa Junior College is $5,782 for far western us region associate degree design students.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Santa Rosa Junior College

#3

Portland Community College

Portland, Oregon

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Portland Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Portland, Oregon, and it awarded 50 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Portland Community College also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend Portland Community College is $8,914 for far western us region associate degree design students.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Portland Community 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 list. This large school is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it awarded 55 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSN, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend College of Southern Nevada is $5,806 for far western us region associate degree design students.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at CSN

#5

Bellevue College

Bellevue, Washington
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Bellevue College landed the #5 spot on the list. Bellevue, Washington is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 31 students in 2019-2020.

BC also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $7,870 for far western us region associate degree design students per year to attend Bellevue College.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Bellevue 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 ranking. Spokane Falls Community College is located in Spokane, Washington and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 37 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

Spokane Falls Community College also took 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 $6,763 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Spokane Falls Community College

#7

Los Angeles Trade Technical College

Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles Trade Technical 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 ranking. Located in Los Angeles, California, this fairly large public school awarded 29 degrees to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.

Los Angeles Trade Technical College also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Los Angeles Trade Technical College is $6,907 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students.

Full Los Angeles Trade Technical College Design & Applied Arts Report

#14 in overall quality

Lake Washington Institute of Technology landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region ranking. 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. It costs about $7,713 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students per year to attend Lake Washington Institute of Technology.

Full Lake Washington Institute of Technology Design & Applied Arts Report

Truckee Meadows Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Reno, Nevada, and it awarded 3 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Truckee Meadows Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #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.

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

#10

Mt. Hood Community College

Gresham, Oregon

With a ranking of #10, Mt. Hood Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region list. 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 $7,211 for far western us region associate degree design students per year to attend MHCC.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at MHCC

#11

Mt. San Antonio College

Walnut, California

With a ranking of #11, Mt. San Antonio College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region 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 not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $1,729 for far western us region associate degree design students per year to attend Mt. SAC.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Mt. SAC

Chemeketa Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region list. Salem, Oregon is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

Chemeketa Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $5,965 for far western us region associate degree design students per year to attend Chemeketa Community College.

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

#13

Lane Community College

Eugene, Oregon

Lane Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Eugene, Oregon, this medium-sized public school awarded 17 degrees to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.

Lane Community College also took 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 $8,553 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students.

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

FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Los Angeles, California, this small private for-profit school awarded 318 diplomas to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at FIDM Los Angeles, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for FIDM Los Angeles is $41,505 for far western us region associate degree design students.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles

#10 in overall quality

Chaminade University of Honolulu landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region ranking. Chaminade University of Honolulu is a small school located in Honolulu, Hawaii that handed out 2 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region associate degree design students list, Chaminade University of Honolulu has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $25,075 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students per year to attend Chaminade University of Honolulu.

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 school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#17

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California

With a ranking of #17, Academy of Art University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region 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 also took the #11 spot 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 per year to attend Academy of Art University.

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

#18

Interior Designers Institute

Newport Beach, California

Interior Designers Institute landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region ranking. Interior Designers Institute is a small private for-profit school situated in Newport Beach, California. It awarded 36 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region associate degree design students 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 $29,030 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Interior Designers Institute

#19

Platt College - San Diego

San Diego, California

Platt College - San Diego ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region 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.

Platt College - San Diego also took the #20 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $26,218 for far western us region associate degree design students per year to attend Platt College - San Diego.

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

#20

Platt College - Ontario

Ontario, California

With a ranking of #20, Platt College - Ontario did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region list. Platt College - Ontario is a private for-profit institution located in Ontario, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 associates’s degrees 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 yearly cost to attend Platt College - Ontario is $23,287 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students.

Full Platt College - Ontario Design & Applied Arts Report

#21

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 ranking, coming in at #21. MSMU 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.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MSMU, the school also landed 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.

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

Full MSMU 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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