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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts in California (With Aid)

14 Ranked Colleges
6,699 Degrees Awarded
$26,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 Getting Aid” 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.

This year’s “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 14 colleges that offered a degree in visual and performing arts. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent visual and performing arts programs, but they also 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 an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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. 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 an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid.

Top 15 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts in California (With Aid)

#1

Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa, California
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Santa Rosa Junior College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Santa Rosa, California, this fairly large public school awarded 79 degrees 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. The estimated yearly cost for SRJC is $5,782 for california associate degree visual & performing arts students with aid.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at SRJC

#2

Mt. San Antonio College

Walnut, California
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Mt. San Antonio College landed the #2 spot on the list. Mt. San Antonio College is a large school located in Walnut, California that handed out 100 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mt. SAC, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Mt. SAC is $1,729 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

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 be in good company if you decide to attend Los Angeles Trade Technical College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a fairly large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 29 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree visual & performing arts students with aid list, Los Angeles Trade Technical College has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Los Angeles Trade Technical College is $6,907 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

Full Los Angeles Trade Technical College Visual & Performing Arts Report

#4

Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, California
#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Mount Saint Mary’s University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid. MSMU is a small school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 1 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MSMU, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for MSMU is $29,214 for california associate degree visual & performing arts students with aid.

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 student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

#5

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 Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Pacific Union College landed the #5 spot on the list. PUC is a small school located in Angwin, California that handed out 1 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

PUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for PUC is $21,835 for california associate degree visual & performing arts students with aid.

Full PUC Visual & Performing Arts Report

#6

Columbia College Hollywood

Tarzana, California
#3 in overall quality

Columbia College Hollywood ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Columbia College Hollywood is a private not-for-profit institution located in Tarzana, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 63 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Columbia College Hollywood, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Columbia College Hollywood is $31,339 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Columbia College Hollywood

#8

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 Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. San Francisco, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associates’s visual and performing arts degrees to 70 students in 2019-2020.

Academy of Art University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Academy of Art University is $34,145 for california associate degree visual & performing arts students with aid.

Full Academy of Art University Visual & Performing Arts Report

#1 in overall quality

FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. 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.

In addition to being on our california associate degree visual & performing arts students with aid list, FIDM Los Angeles has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $41,505 for california associate degree visual & performing arts students with aid per year to attend FIDM Los Angeles.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at FIDM Los Angeles

#10

Platt College - San Diego

San Diego, California
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Platt College - San Diego did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Platt College - San Diego is located in San Diego, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 75 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california associate degree visual & performing arts students with aid list, Platt College - San Diego has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Platt College - San Diego is $26,218 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

Full Platt College - San Diego Visual & Performing Arts Report

#11

Interior Designers Institute

Newport Beach, California
#11 in overall quality

Interior Designers Institute came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Newport Beach, 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 36 students in 2019-2020.

Interior Designers Institute did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Interior Designers Institute is $29,030 for california associate degree visual & performing arts students with aid.

Full Interior Designers Institute Visual & Performing Arts Report

#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 Getting Aid ranking. Platt College - Ontario is a private for-profit institution located in Ontario, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Platt College - Ontario did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Platt College - Ontario is $23,287 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Platt College - Ontario

#12

Los Angeles Film School

Hollywood, California
#10 in overall quality

Los Angeles Film School did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. LA Film School is a medium-sized school located in Hollywood, California that handed out 675 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

LA Film School also took the #10 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Los Angeles Film School is $30,793 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

Full LA Film School Visual & Performing Arts Report

#13

SAE Expression College

Emeryville, California
#15 in overall quality

SAE Expression College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Emeryville, California, this small private for-profit school handed out 1 degrees to qualified associates’s visual and performing arts students in 2019-2020.

SAE Expression College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend SAE Expression College is $31,931 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

Full SAE Expression College Visual & Performing Arts Report

#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 Getting Aid 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 made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend New York Film Academy is $45,280 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

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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