2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k
14
Ranked Colleges
1,198
Degrees Awarded
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 Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k” 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.
For this year’s “Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 14 colleges that offer a degree in general visual and performing arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general visual and performing arts programs that also have a lower cost than 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.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - San Diego. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in La Jolla, California, and it awarded 99 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california visual arts students whose families make $48-$75k list, UCSD has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $14,310 for california visual arts students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UCSD.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
Full University of California - San Diego General Visual & Performing Arts Report
Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Los Angeles landed the #2 spot on the list. Cal State LA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Cal State LA also took the #12 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cal State LA is $5,700 for california visual arts students whose families make $48-$75k.
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 Cal State LA General Visual & Performing Arts Report
Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Southern California landed the #3 spot on the list. USC is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 49 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
USC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Southern California is $22,826 for California Visual Arts students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%. 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.
Full University of Southern California General Visual & Performing Arts Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Channel Islands. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k. This medium-sized school is located in Camarillo, California, and it awarded 20 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
CSUCI also made our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $16,151 for California Visual Arts students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend CSUCI.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, 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
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 $48-$75k. CSUSM is located in San Marcos, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 59 ’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.
CSUSM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” list. It costs about $14,309 for California Visual Arts students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend California State University - San Marcos.
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%.
Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at CSUSM
San Diego Mesa College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 2 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at San Diego Mesa College, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Diego Mesa College is $8,272 for california visual arts students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at San Diego Mesa College
San Jose State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #7. San Jose State University is a large school located in San Jose, California that handed out 4 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
San Jose State also made our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $17,338 for California Visual Arts students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend San Jose State University.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 San Jose State University
Azusa Pacific University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Azusa Pacific University is a medium-sized school located in Azusa, California that handed out 48 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california visual arts students whose families make $48-$75k list, Azusa Pacific has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Azusa Pacific University is $28,538 for California Visual Arts students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at Azusa Pacific University
With a ranking of #9, University of San Francisco did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. USFCA is located in San Francisco, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 ’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.
USFCA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of San Francisco is $36,818 for california visual arts students whose families make $48-$75k.
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 USFCA
Columbia College Hollywood landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Tarzana, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 15 degrees to qualified ’s visual arts students in 2020-2021.
Columbia College Hollywood also took the #9 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Columbia College Hollywood is $33,725 for California Visual Arts students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Columbia College Hollywood
Academy of Art University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #11. This medium-sized school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 63 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Academy of Art University also made our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend Academy of Art University is $34,695 for california visual arts students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Academy of Art University
Otis College of Art and Design did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #12. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s visual arts degrees to 52 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california visual arts students whose families make $48-$75k list, Otis College of Art and Design has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $44,125 for California Visual Arts students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Otis College of Art and Design.
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 $48-$75k ranking. Gnomon is a small private for-profit school situated in Hollywood, California. It awarded 31 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Gnomon also took the #11 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Gnomon is $47,433 for california visual arts students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 Gnomon
San Francisco Art Institute came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual Arts Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. San Francisco Art Institute is a small private not-for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 2 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california visual arts students whose families make $48-$75k list, SFAI has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” ranking.
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.
Full San Francisco Art Institute General Visual & Performing Arts Report
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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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