2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
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 California, there were 4,692 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,196 and $27,472 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,305 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,907 and $21,546 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California” ranking, we looked at 35 colleges that offer a degree 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.
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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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More Ways to Rank Design & Applied Arts Schools
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 a Bachelor’s in California”.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 a Bachelor’s in California
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California.
Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in California
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Long Beach. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California. Located in Long Beach, California, this large public school awarded 130 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2019-2020.
CSULB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Long Beach is $9,622 for California Bachelor’s Degree Design students.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at California State University - Long Beach
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Jose State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California. This large school is located in San Jose, California, and it awarded 153 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
San Jose State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for San Jose State is $14,928 for california bachelor’s degree design students.
The low student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at San Jose State University
Out of the 35 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, San Francisco State University landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in San Francisco, California, this large public school handed out 150 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree design students list, SFSU has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $15,113 for california bachelor’s degree design students per year to attend San Francisco State University.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fresno. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. This large school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 52 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
Fresno State also took the #22 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Fresno State is $5,464 for california bachelor’s degree design students.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 4.7% 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%.
Full California State University - Fresno Design & Applied Arts Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California. UCLA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 44 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
UCLA also took the #2 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Los Angeles is $14,279 for california bachelor’s degree design students.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at University of California - Los Angeles
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is a large school located in Pomona, California that handed out 89 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree design students list, Cal Poly Pomona has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cal Poly Pomona is $12,734 for california bachelor’s degree design students.
The low student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
University of California - Davis ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. University of California - Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 235 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UC Davis also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend UC Davis is $14,669 for California Bachelor’s Degree Design students.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of California - Davis
With a ranking of #8, California State University - Chico did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. California State University - Chico is located in Chico, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 124 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Chico State, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Chico State is $15,017 for california bachelor’s degree design students.
The low student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%.
Full California State University - Chico Design & Applied Arts Report
California State University - Sacramento ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 62 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
Sac State also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #16. The yearly cost to attend Sac State is $9,979 for California Bachelor’s Degree Design students.
The low student loan default rate of 4.6% 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 California State University - Sacramento
California State University - Monterey Bay did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking, coming in at #10. California State University - Monterey Bay is a public institution located in Seaside, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 47 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $12,212 for California Bachelor’s Degree Design students per year to attend California State University - Monterey Bay.
The low student loan default rate of 5.0% 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%.
University of California - San Diego landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. UCSD is a large school located in La Jolla, California that handed out 24 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSD, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of California - San Diego is $14,232 for California Bachelor’s Degree Design students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
University of California - Santa Cruz came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. UC Santa Cruz is a public institution located in Santa Cruz, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 78 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Santa Cruz, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $18,186 for California Bachelor’s Degree Design students per year to attend UC Santa Cruz.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%.
Cogswell College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. Cogswell College is located in San Jose, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Cogswell College is $29,566 for california bachelor’s degree design students.
Academy of Art University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. Located in San Francisco, California, this medium-sized private for-profit school handed out 123 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree design students list, Academy of Art University has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Academy of Art University is $34,145 for California Bachelor’s Degree Design students.
Laguna College of Art and Design landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. LCAD is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Laguna Beach, California. It awarded 75 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree design students list, LCAD has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $35,355 for california bachelor’s degree design students per year to attend Laguna College of Art and Design.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles is a small school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 49 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at FIDM Los Angeles, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend FIDM Los Angeles is $41,505 for California Bachelor’s Degree Design students.
Point Loma Nazarene University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking, coming in at #17. San Diego, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s design degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for PLNU is $33,044 for california bachelor’s degree design students.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Point Loma Nazarene University
With a ranking of #18, Azusa Pacific University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. This medium-sized school is located in Azusa, California, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree design students list, Azusa Pacific has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $26,293 for california bachelor’s degree design students per year to attend Azusa Pacific.
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 school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Azusa Pacific University
Biola University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. La Mirada, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s design degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Biola University is $31,859 for california bachelor’s degree design students.
The low student loan default rate of 1.6% 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%.
Woodbury University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. Woodbury is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Burbank, California. It awarded 26 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Woodbury, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $23,915 for california bachelor’s degree design students per year to attend Woodbury.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 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.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Woodbury University
Art Center College of Design ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. Art Center College of Design is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Pasadena, California. It awarded 223 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
Art Center College of Design did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Art Center College of Design is $47,080 for California Bachelor’s Degree Design students.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Art Center College of Design Design & Applied Arts Report
Interior Designers Institute did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking, coming in at #23. Interior Designers Institute is a small school located in Newport Beach, California that handed out 28 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Interior Designers Institute is $29,030 for California Bachelor’s Degree Design students.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Interior Designers Institute
Platt College - Ontario landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. Ontario, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out bachelors’s design degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $23,287 for California Bachelor’s Degree Design students per year to attend Platt College - Ontario.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Platt College - Ontario
Otis College of Art and Design came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s design degrees to 87 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Otis College of Art and Design, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Otis College of Art and Design is $43,147 for California Bachelor’s Degree Design students.
The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 7 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 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Otis College of Art and Design 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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