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2023 Most Popular Master’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Far Western US Region

20 Ranked Colleges
217 Degrees Awarded
$68,111 Avg Salary
Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region for a Master's

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 the Far Western US Region for a Master’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 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. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 217 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $61,693 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region for a Master’s” ranking analyzed 20 colleges that offered a degree 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.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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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 the Far Western US Region for a Master’s” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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 for a Master’s

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

1
Academy of Art University crest
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, California

Out of the 20 schools in the Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Academy of Art University landed the #1 spot on the list. 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 77 masters’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%.

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

2
California College of the Arts crest
California College of the Arts
San Francisco, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California College of the Arts. The school came in at #2 for the Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region for a Master’s. Located in San Francisco, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 25 degrees to qualified masters’s design students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full California College of the Arts Design & Applied Arts Report

3
Art Center College of Design crest
Art Center College of Design
Pasadena, California

Out of the 20 schools in the Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Art Center College of Design landed the #3 spot on the list. Art Center College of Design is a small school located in Pasadena, California that handed out 24 masters’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%. 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 Art Center College of Design

4
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

Out of the 20 schools in the Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Southern California landed the #4 spot on the list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s design degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 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 excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at University of Southern California

5
Otis College of Art and Design crest
Otis College of Art and Design
Los Angeles, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Otis College of Art and Design. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region for a Master’s list. Otis College of Art and Design is a small school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 15 masters’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate 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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Otis College of Art and Design

6
UO crest
University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon

University of Oregon ranked #6 on this year’s Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region for a Master’s list. Located in Eugene, Oregon, this large public school awarded 11 degrees to qualified masters’s design students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 UO Design & Applied Arts Report

7
SFSU crest
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region for a Master’s ranking. This large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 9 masters’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 more about Design & Applied Arts at San Francisco State University

8

With a ranking of #8, Pacific Northwest College of Art did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region for a Master’s list. Pacific Northwest College of Art is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Portland, Oregon. It awarded 7 masters’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

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

9
New York Film Academy crest
New York Film Academy
Burbank, California

New York Film Academy landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region for a Master’s ranking. New York Film Academy is a small school located in Burbank, California that handed out 6 masters’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% 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 New York Film Academy

9

University of California - Los Angeles came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region for a Master’s ranking. UCLA is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 masters’s design degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UCLA Design & Applied Arts Report

9
LCAD crest
Laguna College of Art and Design
Laguna Beach, California

With a ranking of #9, Laguna College of Art and Design did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region for a Master’s list. Located in Laguna Beach, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 6 degrees to qualified masters’s design students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Laguna College of Art and Design

12

California State University - Long Beach ranked #12 on this year’s Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region for a Master’s list. Located in Long Beach, California, this large public school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified masters’s design students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 - Long Beach Design & Applied Arts Report

13
Wazzu crest
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington

Washington State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region for a Master’s ranking. Washington State University is a large school located in Pullman, Washington that handed out 3 masters’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Wazzu Design & Applied Arts Report

13

University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #13. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a large public school situated in Seattle, Washington. It awarded 3 masters’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full UW Seattle Design & Applied Arts Report

15

University of California - Berkeley ranked #15 on this year’s Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region for a Master’s list. Located in Berkeley, California, this large public school awarded 0 degrees to qualified masters’s design students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, 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 96%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at UC Berkeley

15
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, California

Stanford University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #15. Stanford is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Stanford, California. It awarded 0 masters’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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 Stanford University

15

Western Oregon University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region for a Master’s ranking. Western Oregon State College is a small school located in Monmouth, Oregon that handed out 5 masters’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Western Oregon University Design & Applied Arts Report

15
SNC crest
Sierra Nevada College
Incline Village, Nevada

Sierra Nevada College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #15. SNC is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Incline Village, Nevada. It awarded 0 masters’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.9% 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 full report on Design & Applied Arts at SNC

15
Design Institute of San Diego crest
Design Institute of San Diego
San Diego, California

Design Institute of San Diego ranked #15 on this year’s Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region for a Master’s list. Design Institute of San Diego is located in San Diego, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 18 masters’s design degrees to qualified students.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Design Institute of San Diego

15
National University crest
National University
La Jolla, California

National University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Design Major in the Far Western US Region for a Master’s ranking. National University is located in La Jolla, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 0 masters’s design degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad 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%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at National University

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