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2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s

52 Ranked Colleges
2,446 Degrees Awarded
$32,566 Avg Salary
Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor's

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2020-2021, 36,301 people earned their degree in design and applied arts, making the major the 36th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, design and applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,426 and had an average of $25,481 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 4,575 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,016 and $26,876 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,446 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,566 and $21,995 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s” ranking looked at 52 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in design and applied arts. To top this list, a school must have a successful design and applied arts program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s” 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.

Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s

The colleges and universities below are the best for california bachelor’s degree design students.

1
Art Center College of Design crest
Art Center College of Design
Pasadena, California

Out of the 52 schools in the Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Art Center College of Design landed the #1 spot on the list. Art Center College of Design is a small school located in Pasadena, California that handed out 252 bachelors’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Art Center College of Design

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Davis. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s list. This large school is located in Davis, California, and it awarded 228 bachelors’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at UC Davis

3
San Jose State crest
San Jose State University
San Jose, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend San Jose State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s list. San Jose State University is a large school located in San Jose, California that handed out 201 bachelors’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full San Jose State Design & Applied Arts Report

4
SFSU crest
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Francisco State University. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s. Located in San Francisco, California, this large public school awarded 193 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at SFSU

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Chico. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s. California State University - Chico is a fairly large school located in Chico, California that handed out 143 bachelors’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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%.

Full Chico State Design & Applied Arts Report

6

California State University - Long Beach did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #6. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 137 bachelors’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad 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 California State University - Long Beach

7
Otis College of Art and Design crest
Otis College of Art and Design
Los Angeles, California

Otis College of Art and Design came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s ranking. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 114 bachelors’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, 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

8

With a ranking of #8, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s list. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is located in Pomona, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 113 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 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

9

With a ranking of #9, University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s list. Santa Cruz, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s design degrees to 108 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of California - Santa Cruz

10
LCAD crest
Laguna College of Art and Design
Laguna Beach, California

With a ranking of #10, Laguna College of Art and Design did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s list. This small school is located in Laguna Beach, California, and it awarded 94 bachelors’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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%.

Full Laguna College of Art and Design Design & Applied Arts Report

11
California College of the Arts crest
California College of the Arts
San Francisco, California

With a ranking of #11, California College of the Arts did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s list. California College of the Arts is a small private not-for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 89 bachelors’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full California College of the Arts Design & Applied Arts Report

12
Academy of Art University crest
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, California

Academy of Art University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s ranking. Academy of Art University is a private for-profit institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 81 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad 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%.

Full Academy of Art University Design & Applied Arts Report

13
Cal Baptist crest
California Baptist University
Riverside, California

California Baptist University ranked #13 on this year’s Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Riverside, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 56 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at California Baptist University

14

With a ranking of #14, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s list. Sac State is located in Sacramento, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 55 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Sac State

14

University of California - Los Angeles ranked #14 on this year’s Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s design degrees to 55 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at University of California - Los Angeles

16

California State University - Fresno came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s ranking. Located in Fresno, California, this large public school handed out 48 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 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 full report on Design & Applied Arts at California State University - Fresno

17
LA Film School crest
Los Angeles Film School
Hollywood, California

Los Angeles Film School ranked #17 on this year’s Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s list. Hollywood, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out bachelors’s design degrees to 47 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at LA Film School

18
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s ranking. USC is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 46 bachelors’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at USC

19

FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles ranked #19 on this year’s Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s list. FIDM Los Angeles is a small private for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 32 bachelors’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

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

20

With a ranking of #20, California State University - Monterey Bay did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s list. CSUMB is a medium-sized school located in Seaside, California that handed out 31 bachelors’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad 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%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at California State University - Monterey Bay

21
Woodbury crest
Woodbury University
Burbank, California

Woodbury University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Burbank, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 30 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Woodbury University Design & Applied Arts Report

22
Cogswell crest
Cogswell College
San Jose, California

Cogswell College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s ranking. Cogswell College is located in San Jose, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 29 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 Cogswell College Design & Applied Arts Report

22
USFCA crest
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, California

University of San Francisco ranked #22 on this year’s Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s list. Located in San Francisco, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 29 degrees to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of San Francisco

24
University of Redlands crest
University of Redlands
Redlands, California

University of Redlands ranked #24 on this year’s Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s list. University of Redlands is a small school located in Redlands, California that handed out 25 bachelors’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad 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%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at University of Redlands

25

Newschool of Architecture and Design ranked #25 on this year’s Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s list. Newschool of Architecture and Design is a small private for-profit school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 24 bachelors’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 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 Newschool of Architecture and Design

25
Chapman crest
Chapman University
Orange, California

Chapman University ranked #25 on this year’s Most Well Attended Design Major in California for a Bachelor’s list. Chapman is a medium-sized school located in Orange, California that handed out 24 bachelors’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% 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 Chapman University Design & Applied Arts Report

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