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2027 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Far Western Region

113 Colleges in the United States
5,725 Design & Applied Arts Degrees Awarded
$46,925 Avg Early-Career Salary

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

1

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

2

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

3

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

4

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

5

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

6

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

7

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

8

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

9

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

10

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

11

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

12

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

13

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

14

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

15

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

16

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. Get the full design & applied arts details for Azusa Pacific University

17

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. Get the full design & applied arts details for George Fox University

18

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

19
Bellevue College crest
Bellevue College
Bellevue, WA

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

20
University Of San Francisco crest
University Of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA

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

21

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

22

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

23

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

24

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

25

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:

26
27
28
29
Foothill College crest
Foothill College
Los Altos Hills, CA
30
31
Seattle University crest
Seattle University
Seattle, WA
32
33
Moorpark College crest
Moorpark College
Moorpark, CA
34
35
De Anza College crest
De Anza College
Cupertino, CA
36
Orange Coast College crest
Orange Coast College
Costa Mesa, CA
37
38
39
Diablo Valley College crest
Diablo Valley College
Pleasant Hill, CA
40
41
42
43
44
Biola University crest
Biola University
La Mirada, CA
45
46
47
48
Santa Monica College crest
Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, CA
49
50

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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.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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