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2022 Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in California

13 Colleges in California
241 Master's Degrees
$41,800 Avg Early-Career Salary
A master's degree in design and applied arts is more popular than many other degrees. In fact, it ranks #74 out of 326 on popularity of all such degrees in the nation. So, you have a fair amount of options to choose from when looking for a school.

For its 2022 ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools in California to determine which ones were the most popular for design and applied arts students pursuing a master's degree. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 241 master's degrees in design and applied arts during the 2019-2020 academic year.

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Choosing a Great Design & Applied Arts School for Your Master's Degree

Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in California The design master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. One of the reasons we created our Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in California ranking is to help you make that choice.

Being popular does not always equate to overall quality, but a school with a large number of design and applied arts students usually has them for a reason. This may be due to it being a great value, it offering a stellar educational experience, or the subject is a major focus of the school.

More Ways to Rank Design & Applied Arts Schools

Associate Degrees in Design
Bachelor's Degrees in Design
Overall Popularity in Design

We have also developed a number of other rankings to help guide you in your decision-making process. To begin with, if this is not the degree level you are most interested in, you may want to check out one of the others noted above. If you would prefer to limit your search to a specific state or region of the county, see our rankings by location. On top of that, you can visit our other rankings for design and applied arts.

Below you'll see a list of the most popular colleges and universities for pursuing a master's degree in design and applied arts.

10 Most Well Attended Schools for Design Students Working on Their Master's

1
Academy of Art University crest
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, CA
102 Annual Master's Degrees
#6 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Academy of Art University is one of the most popular schools in the United States for getting a master's degree in design and applied arts. Located in the city of San Francisco, Academy of Art University is a private for-profit university with a medium-sized student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #6 in quality for master's degrees in design and applied arts in California.

There were approximately 102 design and applied arts individuals who graduated with this degree at Academy of Art University in the most recent data year.

After graduation, design master's recipients typically make an average of $41,800 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a master’s in design and applied arts from Academy of Art University

2
44 Annual Master's Degrees
#3 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Every student who is interested in a master's degree in design and applied arts needs to look into California College of the Arts. California College of the Arts is a small private not-for-profit college located in the city of San Francisco. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #3 in quality for master's degrees in design and applied arts in California.

There were approximately 44 design and applied arts students who graduated with this degree at California College of the Arts in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in design and applied arts from California College of the Arts

3
29 Annual Master's Degrees
#4 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Art Center College of Design is one of the most popular schools in the United States for getting a master's degree in design and applied arts. Located in the city of Pasadena, Art Center College of Design is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #4 in quality for master's degrees in design and applied arts in California.

There were roughly 29 design and applied arts individuals who graduated with this degree at Art Center College of Design in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in design and applied arts from Art Center College of Design

4
25 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

University of Southern California is a popular choice for students pursuing a master's degree in design and applied arts. USC is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Los Angeles. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #1 in quality for master's degrees in design and applied arts in California.

There were about 25 design and applied arts students who graduated with this degree at USC in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in design and applied arts from University of Southern California

5
11 Annual Master's Degrees
#7 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the city of Los Angeles, Otis College of Art and Design is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #7 in quality for master's degrees in design and applied arts in California.

There were approximately 11 design and applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Otis College of Art and Design in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in design and applied arts from Otis College of Art and Design

6
9 Annual Master's Degrees
#5 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the rural area of Laguna Beach, LCAD is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly small student population. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #5 in quality for master's degrees in design and applied arts in California.

There were about 9 design and applied arts students who graduated with this degree at LCAD in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in design and applied arts from Laguna College of Art and Design

6
9 Annual Master's Degrees
#2 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public university with a fairly large student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #2 in quality for master's degrees in design and applied arts in California.

There were approximately 9 design and applied arts individuals who graduated with this degree at UCLA in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in design and applied arts from University of California - Los Angeles

8
8 Annual Master's Degrees
#10 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

New York Film Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Burbank.

There were approximately 8 design and applied arts students who graduated with this degree at New York Film Academy in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in design and applied arts from New York Film Academy

9
3 Annual Master's Degrees
#8 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

SFSU is a very large public university located in the city of San Francisco. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #8 in quality for master's degrees in design and applied arts in California.

There were roughly 3 design and applied arts students who graduated with this degree at SFSU in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in design and applied arts from San Francisco State University

10
1 Annual Master's Degrees
#9 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the city of La Jolla, National University is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #9 in quality for master's degrees in design and applied arts in California.

There were about 1 design and applied arts students who graduated with this degree at National University in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in design and applied arts from National University

Best Design & Applied Arts Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

StateCollegesDegrees Awarded
Washington18416
Oregon15111

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One of 10 majors within the Visual & Performing Arts area of study, Design & Applied Arts has other similar majors worth exploring.

Design Concentrations

MajorAnnual Graduates
Illustration56
Visual Communications51
Fashion Design46
Graphic Design40
Game & Interactive Media Design36
Other Design & Applied Arts12

Related MajorAnnual Graduates
Film, Video & Photographic Arts806
Music526
Fine & Studio Arts434
Drama & Theater Arts363
General Visual & Performing Arts84
Arts & Media Management43
Dance30
Other Visual Art5

Notes and References

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