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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Fine & Studio Arts in California

28 Ranked Colleges
434 Degrees Awarded
$27,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master's in California

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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, 39,860 people earned their degree in fine and studio arts, making the major the 29th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, fine and studio arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $23,847 and had an average of $28,316 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 6,942 fine and studio arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $23,810 and $30,915 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 434 fine and studio 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 looked at 28 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in fine and studio arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality fine and studio arts programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the fine and studio arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Fine & Studio Arts Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

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

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Fine & Studio Arts in California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Long Beach. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California. Long Beach, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s Fine Arts degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree fine arts students list, CSULB has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State University - Long Beach Fine & Studio Arts Report

#2

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, California

Out of the 28 schools in the Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Azusa Pacific University landed the #2 spot on the list. Azusa Pacific University is a medium-sized school located in Azusa, California that handed out 30 masters’s Fine Arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Azusa Pacific also took the #9 spot in our “Best Fine & Studio 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 Azusa Pacific are $16,571.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at Azusa Pacific

#3

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

Out of the 28 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 - Los Angeles landed the #3 spot on the list. University of California - Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 masters’s Fine Arts degrees to qualified students.

UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Fine & Studio 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 University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at UCLA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fullerton. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California list. California State University - Fullerton is a large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 18 masters’s Fine Arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton also made our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #12. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at Cal State Fullerton

#6 in overall quality

Out of the 28 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 - Irvine landed the #5 spot on the list. UC Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree fine arts students list, UC Irvine has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Irvine are $28,456, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at UC Irvine

#6

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#10 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. This large school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 7 masters’s Fine Arts degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Santa Barbara Fine & Studio Arts Report

University of California - Davis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #7. University of California - Davis is a large public school situated in Davis, California. It awarded 16 masters’s Fine Arts degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Davis not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Fine & Studio 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 UC Davis are $28,700.

Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at UC Davis

#8

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#15 in overall quality

San Jose State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Located in San Jose, California, this large public school awarded 9 degrees to qualified masters’s Fine Arts students in 2019-2020.

San Jose State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Fine & Studio 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 San Jose State University are $18,790.

Full San Jose State University Fine & Studio Arts Report

California State University - Northridge came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. California State University - Northridge is a large public school situated in Northridge, California. It awarded 12 masters’s Fine Arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSUN, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Fine & Studio 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 - Northridge are $17,955.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at CSUN

#10

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California
#4 in overall quality

University of California - Berkeley did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #10. UC Berkeley is a large public school situated in Berkeley, California. It awarded 10 masters’s Fine Arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Berkeley, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Fine & Studio 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 University of California - Berkeley are $29,347.

Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at University of California - Berkeley

#11

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#20 in overall quality

San Francisco State University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. San Francisco State University is a public institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SFSU also made our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #20. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Francisco State University are $17,944, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full San Francisco State University Fine & Studio Arts Report

#12

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#18 in overall quality

San Diego State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school handed out 6 degrees to qualified masters’s Fine Arts students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree fine arts students list, SDSU has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Fine & Studio 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 San Diego State University are $18,658.

Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at San Diego State University

#22 in overall quality

California State University - Sacramento came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Sacramento, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s Fine Arts degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

Sac State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Fine & Studio 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 - Sacramento are $18,356.

Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at Sac State

#14

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
#17 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #14. UCR is a large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 6 masters’s Fine Arts degrees in 2019-2020.

UCR also took the #17 spot in our “Best Fine & Studio 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 UCR are $28,686.

Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at University of California - Riverside

California State University - Fresno landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. This large school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 3 masters’s Fine Arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno State are $17,581.

Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at California State University - Fresno

California State University - Los Angeles came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Cal State LA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at Cal State LA

#17

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California

California State University - San Bernardino ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California list. CSUSB is a public institution located in San Bernardino, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - San Bernardino are $17,936, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at CSUSB

#18

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California

University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Located in Santa Cruz, California, this fairly large public school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s Fine Arts students in 2019-2020.

UC Santa Cruz also took the #24 spot in our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Santa Cruz are $28,952, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of California - Santa Cruz Fine & Studio Arts Report

#19

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California

Academy of Art University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Located in San Francisco, California, this medium-sized private for-profit school handed out 58 degrees to qualified masters’s Fine Arts students in 2019-2020.

Academy of Art University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Academy of Art University are $27,688, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at Academy of Art University

#20

Mills College

Oakland, California
#16 in overall quality

Mills College landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Mills College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Oakland, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree fine arts students list, Mills has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Fine & Studio 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 Mills College are $36,263.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at Mills

#21

Claremont Graduate University

Claremont, California

Claremont Graduate University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #21. This small school is located in Claremont, California, and it awarded 17 masters’s Fine Arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Claremont Graduate University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Fine & Studio 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 Claremont Graduate University are $36,380.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at Claremont Graduate University

#22

Laguna College of Art and Design

Laguna Beach, California
#25 in overall quality

Laguna College of Art and Design landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Laguna College of Art and Design is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Laguna Beach, California. It awarded 12 masters’s Fine Arts degrees in 2019-2020.

LCAD also took the #25 spot in our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Laguna College of Art and Design are $37,700, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#23

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

University of Southern California did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #23. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s Fine Arts degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree fine arts students list, USC has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Fine & Studio 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 University of Southern California are $48,715.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at University of Southern California

#24

San Francisco Art Institute

San Francisco, California

San Francisco Art Institute landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. This small school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 59 masters’s Fine Arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree fine arts students list, SFAI has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SFAI are $48,250, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at San Francisco Art Institute

#25

California Institute of the Arts

Valencia, California

California Institute of the Arts did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #25. California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 masters’s Fine Arts degrees to qualified students.

CalArts also took the #14 spot in our “Best Fine & Studio 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 CalArts are $53,466.

Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at California Institute of the Arts

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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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