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Featured Design & Applied Arts Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
AA in Digital Photography
Take the first step toward a career of visual expression and doing what you love with this online associate degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
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BA in Digital Photography
Learn to create a striking portfolio and hone the skills you need to succeed in the world of professional photography with this online digital photography degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
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2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the design & applied arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
Moorpark College earned the #1 spot for value among design & applied arts schools in California. Set in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Students borrow a median of $17,075 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Diego Mesa College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Students borrow a median of $6,999 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from San Diego Mesa College generally make around $29,852. Set against $6,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Canada College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Canada College is a large public school located in the suburb of Redwood City. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,384 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $15,000. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Canada College earn a median of $106,691 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Irvine Valley College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,156 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,860. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $6,672. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,156. Set against $6,672 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cerritos College earned it the #5 place for design & applied arts. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Students borrow a median of $11,306 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $29,495 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
College Of The Canyons ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. Students from in state pay about $1,166 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,958 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. That is a strong return on a $9,776 median debt.
West Valley College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $0, with out-of-state students paying around $9,320. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $14,308. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $25,378. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saddleback College placed #8 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,432, with out-of-state students paying around $14,812. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $5,707. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Saddleback College generally make around $15,890. That is a strong return on a $5,707 median debt.
College Of The Sequoias earned the #9 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,394 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,038 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $10,288 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of College Of The Sequoias earn a median of $37,749 early in their careers. Set against $10,288 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mt San Antonio College landed the #10 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $9,384. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $44,391. That is a strong return on a $9,384 median debt.
Fresno City College placed #11 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,378, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $7,234. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of $37,470 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Diego City College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego City College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $9,514. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $26,218. Set against $9,514 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pasadena City College landed the #13 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,924. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santiago Canyon College placed #14 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,164, compared with $9,612 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Santiago Canyon College generally make around $34,100. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Monica College landed the #15 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Santa Monica College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Monica. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,156, with out-of-state students paying around $10,708. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,193 ten years after entry.
California State University Dominguez Hills placed #16 among the best values for design & applied arts. California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public school located in the city of Carson. In-state tuition and fees average $7,454, while out-of-state students pay about $20,054. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $12,688. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from California State University Dominguez Hills generally make around $52,683. Set against $12,688 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
California State University Fullerton came in at #17 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $20,070. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $54,471. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Fullerton admits about 90% of applicants.
Riverside City College came in at #18 for value in design & applied arts this year. Riverside City College is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,428, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $8,767. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Riverside City College generally make around $37,102. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Las Positas College came in at #19 for value in design & applied arts this year. Las Positas College is a large public school located in the city of Livermore. In-state tuition and fees average $1,168, with out-of-state students paying around $9,808. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,088 ten years after entry.
De Anza College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Cupertino, De Anza College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,571, with out-of-state students paying around $12,596. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $7,271 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $56,596. That is a strong return on a $7,271 median debt.
Orange Coast College landed the #21 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,392, with out-of-state students paying around $11,640. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $8,978. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of $46,306 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,978 median debt.
Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #22 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,318, compared with $11,308 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College generally make around $80,047. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cypress College landed the #23 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the city of Cypress, Cypress College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,150 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,379. Median earnings reach $43,533 ten years out.
Sierra College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Sierra College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rocklin. In-state tuition and fees average $1,446. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $12,733 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Sierra College generally make around $29,214. That is a strong return on a $12,733 median debt.
American River College earned the #25 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Sacramento, American River College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,288, while out-of-state students pay about $12,616. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $14,105 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $76,077. Set against $14,105 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s design & applied arts value ranking:
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 138 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 31 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
