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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k) in California

14 Ranked Colleges
496 Degrees Awarded
$21,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Bachelor's in California For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

General Visual & Performing Arts is the 125th most popular major in the country with 6,359 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, general visual and performing arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $24,577 and had an average of $26,968 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 1,292 general visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $21,800 and $23,419 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 496 general visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,907 and $21,546 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 14 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general visual and performing arts. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent general visual and performing 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 general visual and performing arts program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 Visual Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 14 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k) in California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - San Diego. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. UCSD is located in La Jolla, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 116 bachelors’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.

UCSD also made our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend University of California - San Diego is $9,280 for California Bachelor’s Degree Visual Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at University of California - San Diego

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - San Marcos landed the #2 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in San Marcos, California, and it awarded 93 bachelors’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUSM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $9,517 for california bachelor’s degree visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend California State University - San Marcos.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full California State University - San Marcos General Visual & Performing Arts Report

#3

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Southern California landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Southern California is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 18 bachelors’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, USC has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $14,668 for california bachelor’s degree visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend USC.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full University of Southern California General Visual & Performing Arts Report

#4

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend San Jose State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in San Jose, California, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

San Jose State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for San Jose State University is $10,940 for California Bachelor’s Degree Visual Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full San Jose State University General Visual & Performing Arts Report

#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Channel Islands. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. CSUCI is a medium-sized public school situated in Camarillo, California. It awarded 12 bachelors’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUCI also made our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $10,131 for california bachelor’s degree visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend California State University - Channel Islands.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at California State University - Channel Islands

#6

William Jessup University

Rocklin, California
#11 in overall quality

William Jessup University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Rocklin, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s visual arts students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, William Jessup University has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend William Jessup University is $16,789 for California Bachelor’s Degree Visual Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at William Jessup University

#7

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, California

Azusa Pacific University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Azusa, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s visual arts degrees to 65 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Azusa Pacific, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Azusa Pacific is $21,179 for california bachelor’s degree visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Azusa Pacific University General Visual & Performing Arts Report

#8

Point Loma Nazarene University

San Diego, California
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Point Loma Nazarene University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Point Loma Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

PLNU also made our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for PLNU is $25,073 for California Bachelor’s Degree Visual Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at PLNU

#9

Woodbury University

Burbank, California
#12 in overall quality

Woodbury University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Woodbury University is a small school located in Burbank, California that handed out 2 bachelors’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Woodbury did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Woodbury is $21,148 for California Bachelor’s Degree Visual Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at Woodbury

#10

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California

University of San Francisco did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Located in San Francisco, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 10 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s visual arts students in 2019-2020.

USFCA also took the #4 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $27,690 for california bachelor’s degree visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of San Francisco.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full USFCA General Visual & Performing Arts Report

#11

Otis College of Art and Design

Los Angeles, California

Otis College of Art and Design came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 48 bachelors’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Otis College of Art and Design also made our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend Otis College of Art and Design is $37,708 for california bachelor’s degree visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Otis College of Art and Design General Visual & Performing Arts Report

#12

Marymount California University

Rancho Palos Verdes, California

Marymount California University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. MCU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. It awarded 3 bachelors’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

MCU also took the #14 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend MCU is $29,637 for California Bachelor’s Degree Visual Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 5.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at MCU

#13

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California

Academy of Art University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 34 bachelors’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Academy of Art University also made our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $29,390 for California Bachelor’s Degree Visual Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Academy of Art University.

Full Academy of Art University General Visual & Performing Arts Report

#14

San Francisco Art Institute

San Francisco, California
#13 in overall quality

San Francisco Art Institute ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. SFAI is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SFAI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend SFAI is $35,029 for california bachelor’s degree visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at San Francisco Art Institute

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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.

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