College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region

170 Ranked Colleges
5,956 Degrees Awarded
$35,300 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Design Major 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 “Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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 the Far Western US region, there were 5,956 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,100 and $26,477 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region” ranking looked at 170 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in design and applied arts. This ranking identifies schools that graduate the most students in design and applied arts.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Design Rankings Other Ranking Categories

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 “Most Well Attended Design Major 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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region”.

1

Out of the 170 schools in the Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles landed the #1 spot on the list. FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles is a private for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 288 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles Design & Applied Arts Report

2
Art Center College of Design crest
Art Center College of Design
Pasadena, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Art Center College of Design. The school came in at #2 for the Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region. Art Center College of Design is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pasadena, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 276 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Art Center College of Design

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Davis. The school came in at #3 for the Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region. This large school is located in Davis, California, and it awarded 228 ’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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at UC Davis

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 the Far Western US Region. San Francisco State University is a large public school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 202 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at SFSU

5
San Jose State crest
San Jose State University
San Jose, California

Out of the 170 schools in the Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, San Jose State University landed the #5 spot on the list. San Jose State University is a large school located in San Jose, California that handed out 201 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full San Jose State University Design & Applied Arts Report

6
Academy of Art University crest
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, California

Academy of Art University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #6. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 170 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Academy of Art University Design & Applied Arts Report

7

California State University - Chico ranked #7 on this year’s Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region list. Chico State is a public institution located in Chico, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 143 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

8

California State University - Long Beach ranked #8 on this year’s Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region list. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 141 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Full California State University - Long Beach Design & Applied Arts Report

9
Otis College of Art and Design crest
Otis College of Art and Design
Los Angeles, California

With a ranking of #9, Otis College of Art and Design did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region list. Otis College of Art and Design is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 129 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Otis College of Art and Design

10
Oregon State crest
Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon

Oregon State University ranked #10 on this year’s Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region list. This large school is located in Corvallis, Oregon, and it awarded 114 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Oregon State University Design & Applied Arts Report

10
California College of the Arts crest
California College of the Arts
San Francisco, California

With a ranking of #10, California College of the Arts did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region list. This small school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 114 ’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

With a ranking of #12, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Pomona, California, this large public school awarded 113 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

13

With a ranking of #13, University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region list. Santa Cruz, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 108 students in 2020-2021.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UC Santa Cruz Design & Applied Arts Report

14
LCAD crest
Laguna College of Art and Design
Laguna Beach, California

Laguna College of Art and Design ranked #14 on this year’s Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region list. This small school is located in Laguna Beach, California, and it awarded 100 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at LCAD

15

Portland Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region list. This large school is located in Portland, Oregon, and it awarded 166 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Portland Community College

16

Portland State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #16. Portland State University is a large public school situated in Portland, Oregon. It awarded 83 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad 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%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Portland State University

17
BC crest
Bellevue College
Bellevue, Washington

With a ranking of #17, Bellevue College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region list. Bellevue College is a public institution located in Bellevue, Washington. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 74 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full BC Design & Applied Arts Report

18
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #18. USC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 67 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 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 more about Design & Applied Arts at USC

19
UO crest
University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon

University of Oregon did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #19. This large school is located in Eugene, Oregon, and it awarded 62 ’s design degrees 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 UO

20

University of California - Los Angeles landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. University of California - Los Angeles is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 61 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at UCLA

20
SMC crest
Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, California

Santa Monica College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #20. SMC is located in Santa Monica, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 100 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at SMC

20
WWU crest
Western Washington University
Bellingham, Washington

Western Washington University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. WWU is a fairly large public school situated in Bellingham, Washington. It awarded 68 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad 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%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at WWU

23
Cal Baptist crest
California Baptist University
Riverside, California

California Baptist University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #23. California Baptist University is located in Riverside, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 56 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

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%.

Full Cal Baptist Design & Applied Arts Report

23

University of Nevada - Las Vegas ranked #23 on this year’s Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region list. Las Vegas, Nevada is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 56 students in 2020-2021.

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

Full University of Nevada - Las Vegas Design & Applied Arts Report

25

California State University - Sacramento landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. Sac State is located in Sacramento, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 55 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full California State University - Sacramento Design & Applied Arts Report

Rest of the Best 26 in Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region

Not only did these schools make the top 26 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
Interior Designers Institute crest
Interior Designers Institute
Newport Beach, California

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options