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2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California

20 Ranked Colleges
228 Degrees Awarded
$32,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master's in California

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 12,032 people earned their degree in fine arts, making the major the 67th most popular in the United States.

Across California, there were 1,478 fine arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 228 fine arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking analyzed 20 colleges that offered a degree in fine arts. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent fine arts programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the fine arts program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Fine Arts Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for california master’s degree fine arts students.

Top 20 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Fine Arts in California

#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Long Beach. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California list. Long Beach, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s fine arts degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree fine arts students list, CSULB has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784.

Full CSULB Fine Arts Report

#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fullerton. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California. This large school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 12 masters’s fine arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree fine arts students list, Cal State Fullerton has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892.

Full California State University - Fullerton Fine Arts Report

#3

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #3 spot on the list. University of California - Santa Barbara is a large school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 6 masters’s fine arts degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSB are $28,670, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UCSB Fine Arts Report

#4

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#10 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Jose State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California. San Jose State is a large school located in San Jose, California that handed out 7 masters’s fine arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree fine arts students list, San Jose State has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State University are $18,790, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Fine Arts at San Jose State

#16 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Northridge. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California. Located in Northridge, California, this large public school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified masters’s fine arts students in 2019-2020.

CSUN did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Fine Arts at CSUN

#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, University of California - Berkeley did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California list. Berkeley, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s fine arts degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also took the #3 spot in our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Berkeley Fine Arts Report

#7

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#14 in overall quality

San Francisco State University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. SFSU is a large public school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 3 masters’s fine arts degrees in 2019-2020.

SFSU also took the #14 spot in our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Francisco State University are $17,944, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Fine Arts at San Francisco State University

#8

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#12 in overall quality

San Diego State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. San Diego State University is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 6 masters’s fine arts degrees in 2019-2020.

SDSU also took the #12 spot in our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658.

Full SDSU Fine Arts Report

#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, California State University - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s fine arts degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA also made our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #19. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723.

Full California State University - Los Angeles Fine Arts Report

#10

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California
#20 in overall quality

California State University - San Bernardino landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. This fairly large school is located in San Bernardino, California, and it awarded 2 masters’s fine arts degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUSB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - San Bernardino are $17,936.

Read full report on Fine Arts at California State University - San Bernardino

#11

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#17 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #11. UC Santa Cruz is a fairly large school located in Santa Cruz, California that handed out 2 masters’s fine arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree fine arts students list, UC Santa Cruz has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC Santa Cruz are $28,952.

Read full report on Fine Arts at University of California - Santa Cruz

#12

Mills College

Oakland, California
#11 in overall quality

Mills College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California list. Mills is located in Oakland, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s fine arts degrees to qualified students.

Mills did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mills are $36,263, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Fine Arts at Mills College

#13

Claremont Graduate University

Claremont, California
#15 in overall quality

Claremont Graduate University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Claremont Graduate University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Claremont, California. It awarded 17 masters’s fine arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Claremont Graduate University also took the #15 spot in our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Claremont Graduate University are $36,380, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Fine Arts at Claremont Graduate University

#14

Laguna College of Art and Design

Laguna Beach, California
#18 in overall quality

Laguna College of Art and Design did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #14. Laguna Beach, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s fine arts degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

LCAD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at LCAD are $37,700, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Fine Arts at Laguna College of Art and Design

#15

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

University of Southern California ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California list. University of Southern California is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 10 masters’s fine arts degrees in 2019-2020.

USC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full USC Fine Arts Report

#16

San Francisco Art Institute

San Francisco, California
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, San Francisco Art Institute did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California list. San Francisco Art Institute is a small school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 51 masters’s fine arts degrees in 2019-2020.

SFAI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SFAI are $48,250, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full SFAI Fine Arts Report

#17

California Institute of the Arts

Valencia, California
#9 in overall quality

California Institute of the Arts ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California list. California Institute of the Arts is a private not-for-profit institution located in Valencia, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 16 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CalArts, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Institute of the Arts are $53,466, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full CalArts Fine Arts Report

#18

Otis College of Art and Design

Los Angeles, California
#13 in overall quality

Otis College of Art and Design ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California list. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 17 masters’s fine arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Otis College of Art and Design not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Otis College of Art and Design are $49,680, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Otis College of Art and Design Fine Arts Report

#19

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

Stanford University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #19. Stanford University is a fairly large school located in Stanford, California that handed out 6 masters’s fine arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford also made our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #1. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011.

Full Stanford Fine Arts Report

#20

California College of the Arts

San Francisco, California
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, California College of the Arts did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California list. This small school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 24 masters’s fine arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at California College of the Arts, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California College of the Arts are $53,795, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California College of the Arts Fine Arts Report

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Jorge Royan.

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