by our College Data Analytics TeamFor its 2024 ranking, College Factual looked at 35 schools in California to determine which ones were the best for visual & performing arts students pursuing a master's degree. Combined, these schools handed out 2,317 master's degrees in visual & performing arts to qualified students.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
Your choice of visual & performing arts for getting your master's degree school matters. Important measures of a quality visual & performing arts program can vary widely even among the top schools. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
Average early-career salary of those graduating with their master's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. After all, your master's degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for visual & performing arts students working on their master's degree.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Visual & Performing Arts Master's Degree Schools in California list, to help you choose the best school for you.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
The following list ranks the best colleges and universities for pursuing a master's degree in visual & performing arts.
University of Southern California is a wonderful decision for students pursuing a master's degree in visual & performing arts. USC is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Los Angeles.More information about a master’s in visual & performing arts from University of Southern California
It's hard to beat University of California - Los Angeles if you wish to pursue a master's degree in visual & performing arts. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in visual & performing arts from University of California - Los Angeles
Every student pursuing a degree in a master's degree in visual & performing arts needs to look into University of California - San Diego. UCSD is a fairly large public university located in the large city of La Jolla.More information about a master’s in visual & performing arts from University of California - San Diego
Chapman University is a great decision for individuals interested in a master's degree in visual & performing arts. Chapman is a large private not-for-profit university located in the medium-sized city of Orange.More information about a master’s in visual & performing arts from Chapman University
Loyola Marymount is a large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Los Angeles.More information about a master’s in visual & performing arts from Loyola Marymount University
American Film Institute is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles.More information about a master’s in visual & performing arts from American Film Institute Conservatory
Located in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in visual & performing arts from Pepperdine University
UC Irvine is a very large public university located in the city of Irvine.More information about a master’s in visual & performing arts from University of California - Irvine
UC Berkeley is a very large public university located in the medium-sized city of Berkeley.More information about a master’s in visual & performing arts from University of California - Berkeley
SFCM is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco.More information about a master’s in visual & performing arts from San Francisco Conservatory of Music
Explore all the Best Visual & Performing Arts Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | 31 | 109 |
| Oregon | 29 | 157 |
| Hawaii | 27 | 23 |
| Nevada | 27 | 45 |
| Alaska | 21 | 3 |
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 744 |
| Music | 498 |
| Fine & Studio Arts | 367 |
| Drama & Theater Arts | 336 |
| Design & Applied Arts | 193 |
| General Visual & Performing Arts | 60 |
| Dance | 56 |
| Arts & Media Management | 51 |
| Other Visual Art | 12 |
