2027 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Far Western Region
Design & Applied Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their design & applied arts programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 113 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for design & applied arts students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in the Far Western Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the design & applied arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Design & Applied Arts
Leading the list is San Jose State University, our #1 school for design & applied arts. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 233 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at San Jose State University
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Seattle. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 42 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $63,449. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $12,250 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at Chapman University, which ranked #3. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. Chapman University graduates 82% of students within six years. Chapman University awarded about 33 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Chapman University generally make around $46,519. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full design & applied arts details for Chapman University
California State University Fullerton is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Fullerton awarded about 80 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $54,471 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at California State University Fullerton
University Of Southern California is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in design & applied arts, ranking #5. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Southern California awarded about 85 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $64,846 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,262.
Get the full design & applied arts details for University Of Southern California
University Of California Davis landed the #6 spot for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Davis. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. University Of California Davis awarded about 277 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $32,816. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at University Of California Davis
University Of California Los Angeles ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 62 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $57,615. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for University Of California Los Angeles
California State University Long Beach came in at #8 for design & applied arts this year. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 120 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $37,395 early in their careers. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $17,215 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from California State University Long Beach
San Francisco State University earned the #9 position for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. San Francisco State University graduates 50% of students within six years. About 183 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $34,845. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for San Francisco State University
Point Loma Nazarene University earned the #10 position for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Point Loma Nazarene University graduates 77% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Point Loma Nazarene University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $54,116 in their early career. Point Loma Nazarene University graduates carry a median of $22,542 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Point Loma Nazarene University
Washington State University placed #11 among the best design & applied arts schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Pullman. Washington State University graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 66 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Washington State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Washington State University generally make around $44,823. Students borrow a median of $22,802 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Washington State University
University Of California San Diego ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. About 34 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of California San Diego earn around $60,797 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California San Diego graduates carry a median of $16,787 in student loans.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at University Of California San Diego
Western Washington University landed the #13 spot for design & applied arts this year. Western Washington University is a large public school located in the city of Bellingham. About 65% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 51 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Western Washington University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Western Washington University generally make around $31,078. Western Washington University graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Western Washington University
California State University Sacramento landed the #14 spot for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. California State University Sacramento graduates 56% of students within six years. There were roughly 78 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from California State University Sacramento earn around $32,240 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,750.
See the full design & applied arts program report for California State University Sacramento
Oregon State University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 124 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Oregon State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $35,614 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,419 to complete this degree.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Oregon State University
Azusa Pacific University earned the #16 position for design & applied arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Azusa. Azusa Pacific University graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Azusa Pacific University in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Azusa Pacific University earn a median of $58,302 early in their careers. Azusa Pacific University graduates carry a median of $23,709 in student loans.
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George Fox University landed the #17 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the town of Newberg, George Fox University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. George Fox University awarded about 30 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $52,898 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,324.
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California State Polytechnic University Pomona ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates 68% of students within six years. About 100 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $30,065 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,160 to complete this degree.
Get the full design & applied arts details for California State Polytechnic University Pomona
Bellevue College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Bellevue, Bellevue College is a large public institution. About 61 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Bellevue College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Bellevue College generally make around $45,947. Typical student debt for the program is $33,660.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Bellevue College
University Of San Francisco came in at #20 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 37 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of San Francisco in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of San Francisco generally make around $32,070. University Of San Francisco graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from University Of San Francisco
Eastern Washington University came in at #21 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a very large public institution. Eastern Washington University graduates 44% of students within six years. About 15 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Eastern Washington University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Eastern Washington University generally make around $47,144. Students borrow a median of $21,754 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Eastern Washington University
Seattle Pacific University placed #22 among the best design & applied arts schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Seattle. About 62% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 29 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Seattle Pacific University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Seattle Pacific University generally make around $39,248. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Seattle Pacific University
California State University Chico landed the #23 spot for design & applied arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Chico. California State University Chico graduates 63% of students within six years. California State University Chico awarded about 92 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from California State University Chico earn around $27,573 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,047 to complete this degree.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at California State University Chico
Portland State University landed the #24 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public institution. Portland State University graduates 53% of students within six years. Portland State University awarded about 67 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Portland State University earn around $35,304 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,995 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Portland State University
California State University Monterey Bay placed #25 among the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 27 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University Monterey Bay in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $30,378 in their early career. California State University Monterey Bay graduates carry a median of $14,827 in student loans.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at California State University Monterey Bay
Rest of the Top 50 Design & Applied Arts Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong design & applied arts education:
Narrow Design & Applied Arts Schools by State
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 113 schools evaluated.
- 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.