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2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k

72 Ranked Colleges
13,375 Degrees Awarded
$8,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor's in California For Those Making $30-$48k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 155,377 visual and performing arts students received their degree, making the major the 10th most popular in the country. 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 bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 13,375 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,907 and $21,546 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 72 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important 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 & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $30-$48k) in California

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 72 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Stanford, California, and it awarded 53 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Stanford University is $1,145 for California Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 4 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 student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Stanford University

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - Los Angeles is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 191 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $2,117 for California Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Cal State LA.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Cal State LA

#19 in overall quality

Out of the 72 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fullerton landed the #3 spot on the list. Cal State Fullerton is a large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 584 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #19. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Fullerton is $6,100 for california bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Cal State Fullerton Visual & Performing Arts Report

#4

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school handed out 384 degrees to qualified bachelors’s visual and performing arts students in 2019-2020.

UCLA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend UCLA is $9,254 for California Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at UCLA

#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Berkeley. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. University of California - Berkeley is a large school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 275 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Berkeley, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Berkeley is $9,130 for california bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at University of California - Berkeley

#13 in overall quality

University of California - Irvine landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UC Irvine is a large school located in Irvine, California that handed out 373 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Irvine, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $10,373 for California Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of California - Irvine.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low 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 more about Visual & Performing Arts at UC Irvine

California State University - Fresno did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. Fresno State is a large public school situated in Fresno, California. It awarded 191 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Fresno is $3,731 for california bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.7% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at California State University - Fresno

#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - Long Beach is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 909 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB also took the #17 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Long Beach is $7,595 for california bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at CSULB

#21 in overall quality

California State University - Northridge did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. California State University - Northridge is a public institution located in Northridge, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 474 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUN did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for CSUN is $6,883 for california bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at California State University - Northridge

#2 in overall quality

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is a large public school situated in San Luis Obispo, California. It awarded 83 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is $14,680 for california bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

#11

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
#22 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. UCR is a large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 272 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

UCR also took the #22 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Riverside is $9,151 for California Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at University of California - Riverside

California State University - Dominguez Hills landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. CSUDH is a fairly large school located in Carson, California that handed out 101 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend California State University - Dominguez Hills is $3,115 for California Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at California State University - Dominguez Hills

#10 in overall quality

University of California - Davis ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Davis, California, this large public school awarded 425 degrees to qualified bachelors’s visual and performing arts students in 2019-2020.

UC Davis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for UC Davis is $10,769 for california bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at University of California - Davis

#14

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Santa Barbara, California, this large public school handed out 369 degrees to qualified bachelors’s visual and performing arts students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSB, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Santa Barbara is $11,895 for california bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Full University of California - Santa Barbara Visual & Performing Arts Report

#15

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California

California State University - San Bernardino ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. CSUSB is a public institution located in San Bernardino, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 169 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,869 for california bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - San Bernardino.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at California State University - San Bernardino

#16

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

San Diego State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. SDSU is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 321 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for SDSU is $10,594 for california bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at San Diego State University

#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, University of California - San Diego did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of California - San Diego is a large school located in La Jolla, California that handed out 259 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - San Diego is $9,974 for california bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. 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%.

Full University of California - San Diego Visual & Performing Arts Report

#18

Occidental College

Los Angeles, California
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Occidental College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 61 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Oxy, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Occidental College is $17,662 for california bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low student loan default rate of 1.6% 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 Occidental College Visual & Performing Arts Report

California State University - Stanislaus came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. California State University - Stanislaus is a public institution located in Turlock, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 32 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Stanislaus is $3,958 for California Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at California State University - Stanislaus

California State University - Sacramento landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 261 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend California State University - Sacramento is $7,823 for California Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at California State University - Sacramento

California State University - San Marcos ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - San Marcos is a public institution located in San Marcos, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 104 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for California State University - San Marcos is $10,347 for California Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at CSUSM

#22

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, San Jose State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in San Jose, California, and it awarded 507 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

San Jose State also took the #12 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend San Jose State is $11,752 for california bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at San Jose State

#23

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, University of Southern California did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Southern California is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 639 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

USC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for USC is $16,252 for california bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. 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 low student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 Visual & Performing Arts at University of Southern California

With a ranking of #24, California State University - East Bay did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Hayward, California, and it awarded 111 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,891 for California Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Cal State East Bay.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at California State University - East Bay

#25

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in San Francisco, California, this large public school handed out 567 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s visual and performing arts students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend SFSU is $12,517 for California Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full San Francisco State University 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

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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