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

14 Ranked Colleges
6,699 Degrees Awarded
$24,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

Visual & Performing Arts is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 10th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 155,377 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2017-2018, visual and performing arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $25,427 and had an average of $28,377 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 25,365 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $25,067 and $32,687 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 6,699 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,451 and $19,634 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 14 colleges that offer a degree in visual and performing arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great visual and performing arts programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the visual and performing arts program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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 & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. 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 & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for california associate degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 15 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k) in California

#1

Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa, California
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Santa Rosa, California, this fairly large public school handed out 79 diplomas to qualified associates’s visual and performing arts students in 2019-2020.

SRJC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $5,026 for california associate degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Santa Rosa Junior College.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Santa Rosa Junior College

#2

Mt. San Antonio College

Walnut, California
#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Mt. San Antonio College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Mt. San Antonio College is a public institution located in Walnut, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 100 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Mt. SAC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $898 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Mt. San Antonio College.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Mt. San Antonio College

#3

Los Angeles Trade Technical College

Los Angeles, California
#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Los Angeles Trade Technical College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Los Angeles Trade Technical College is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Los Angeles Trade Technical College, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Los Angeles Trade Technical College is $6,716 for california associate degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Los Angeles Trade Technical College

#4

Pacific Union College

Angwin, California
#9 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Pacific Union College landed the #4 spot on the list. Pacific Union College is a small school located in Angwin, California that handed out 1 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, PUC has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Pacific Union College is $15,901 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full PUC Visual & Performing Arts Report

#6

Columbia College Hollywood

Tarzana, California
#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Columbia College Hollywood did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Columbia College Hollywood is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Tarzana, California. It awarded 63 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia College Hollywood did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Columbia College Hollywood is $28,444 for california associate degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Columbia College Hollywood

#1 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles is a small private for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 346 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

FIDM Los Angeles did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $37,103 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles.

Full FIDM Los Angeles Visual & Performing Arts Report

#8

Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, California
#6 in overall quality

Mount Saint Mary’s University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associates’s visual and performing arts degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

MSMU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Mount Saint Mary’s University is $27,107 for california associate degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Mount Saint Mary’s University

#9

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California
#5 in overall quality

Academy of Art University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Academy of Art University is a private for-profit institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 70 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Academy of Art University also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $29,390 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Academy of Art University.

Full Academy of Art University Visual & Performing Arts Report

#10

Platt College - San Diego

San Diego, California
#12 in overall quality

Platt College - San Diego did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. San Diego, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associates’s visual and performing arts degrees to 75 students in 2019-2020.

Platt College - San Diego not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $20,595 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Platt College - San Diego.

Full Platt College - San Diego Visual & Performing Arts Report

#11

Interior Designers Institute

Newport Beach, California
#11 in overall quality

Interior Designers Institute did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. This small school is located in Newport Beach, California, and it awarded 36 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Interior Designers Institute also took the #11 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Interior Designers Institute is $27,000 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Interior Designers Institute

#11

Platt College - Ontario

Ontario, California
#13 in overall quality

Platt College - Ontario landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Platt College - Ontario is a small school located in Ontario, California that handed out 15 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, Platt College - Ontario has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Platt College - Ontario is $22,554 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Platt College - Ontario Visual & Performing Arts Report

#12

Los Angeles Film School

Hollywood, California
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Los Angeles Film School did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. LA Film School is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in Hollywood, California. It awarded 675 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

LA Film School also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Los Angeles Film School is $30,421 for california associate degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full LA Film School Visual & Performing Arts Report

#13

SAE Expression College

Emeryville, California
#15 in overall quality

SAE Expression College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. SAE Expression College is a small private for-profit school situated in Emeryville, California. It awarded 1 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SAE Expression College, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $30,654 for california associate degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SAE Expression College.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at SAE Expression College

#14

New York Film Academy

Burbank, California
#14 in overall quality

New York Film Academy did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. New York Film Academy is located in Burbank, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 31 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

New York Film Academy also took the #14 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $40,748 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend New York Film Academy.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive 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.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at New York Film Academy

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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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