14
Ranked Colleges
1,198
Degrees Awarded
$22,300
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2020-2021, 6,355 people earned their degree in general visual and performing arts, making the major the 116th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, general visual and performing arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $25,134 and had an average of $26,019 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 1,198 general visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $26,951 and $24,479 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Visual Arts Schools 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. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general visual and performing arts programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the general visual and performing 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.
The visual arts school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k”.
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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k.
Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - San Diego landed the #1 spot on the list. University of California - San Diego is located in La Jolla, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 99 ’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our california visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, UCSD has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - San Diego is $9,823 for California Visual Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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 full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at University of California - San Diego
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cal State LA is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 ’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our california visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, Cal State LA has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $1,887 for california visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend California State University - Los Angeles.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.
Full California State University - Los Angeles General Visual & Performing Arts Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Southern California. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 49 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at USC, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Southern California is $17,287 for california visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%.
Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at University of Southern California
Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Channel Islands landed the #4 spot on the list. Camarillo, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual arts degrees to 20 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSUCI, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $12,011 for California Visual Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend California State University - Channel Islands.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at CSUCI
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - San Marcos. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k. CSUSM is a fairly large public school situated in San Marcos, California. It awarded 59 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, CSUSM has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $9,397 for california visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend CSUSM.
The low undergrad 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%.
Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at CSUSM
San Jose State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. San Jose, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual arts degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.
San Jose State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” list. It costs about $12,158 for California Visual Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend San Jose State University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at San Jose State University
San Diego Mesa College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. San Diego Mesa College is located in San Diego, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 ’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.
San Diego Mesa College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend San Diego Mesa College is $4,672 for california visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at San Diego Mesa College
Azusa Pacific University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Azusa Pacific University is a medium-sized school located in Azusa, California that handed out 48 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
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 Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Azusa Pacific University is $26,548 for California Visual Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Azusa Pacific General Visual & Performing Arts Report
Academy of Art University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. San Francisco, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s visual arts degrees to 63 students in 2020-2021.
Academy of Art University also took the #3 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $33,484 for California Visual Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Academy of Art University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at Academy of Art University
University of San Francisco ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 14 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
USFCA also made our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for University of San Francisco is $32,023 for california visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at University of San Francisco
Columbia College Hollywood did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Tarzana, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s visual arts degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.
Columbia College Hollywood also made our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Columbia College Hollywood is $31,954 for california visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at Columbia College Hollywood
Otis College of Art and Design landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 52 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Otis College of Art and Design, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Otis College of Art and Design is $40,627 for California Visual Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
The impressive undergraduate 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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at Otis College of Art and Design
Gnomon landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Gnomon is located in Hollywood, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 31 ’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.
Gnomon did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Gnomon is $39,323 for California Visual Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at Gnomon
San Francisco Art Institute ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. San Francisco Art Institute is located in San Francisco, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 ’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.
SFAI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for San Francisco Art Institute is $40,409 for california visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
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
- *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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