College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid

56 Ranked Colleges
24,145 Degrees Awarded
$12,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that decision.

With 149,215 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, visual and performing arts is the 10th most popular major in the United States. In 2019-2020, visual and performing arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $26,700 and had an average of $25,051 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 24,145 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,013 and $24,403 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 56 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in visual and performing arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality visual and performing arts programs that also have a lower cost than 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Visual & Performing Arts Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Visual & Performing Arts Rankings Other Ranking Categories

The visual & performing arts school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most 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 in California For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for california visual & performing arts students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts in California (With Aid)

1

Out of the 56 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Los Angeles landed the #1 spot on the list. Cal State LA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 284 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Cal State LA is $3,302 for california visual & performing arts students with aid.

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 California State University - Los Angeles Visual & Performing Arts Report

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fullerton. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 653 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

Cal State Fullerton also took the #16 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $8,003 for California Visual & Performing Arts students with aid per year to attend Cal State Fullerton.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Full Cal State Fullerton Visual & Performing Arts Report

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Long Beach. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. CSULB is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 1,012 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

CSULB also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” list, coming in at #24. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Long Beach is $10,054 for california visual & performing arts students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 CSULB

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Los Angeles. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. UCLA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 581 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

UCLA also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Los Angeles is $15,023 for California Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad 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 University of California - Los Angeles Visual & Performing Arts Report

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Irvine. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid. Irvine, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 515 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Irvine, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $12,209 for california visual & performing arts students with aid 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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of California - Irvine Visual & Performing Arts Report

6

California State University - Northridge came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. CSUN is a large school located in Northridge, California that handed out 558 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend California State University - Northridge is $8,523 for California Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at CSUN

7

California State University - San Bernardino ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in San Bernardino, California, and it awarded 140 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend California State University - San Bernardino is $8,107 for California Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

8

University of California - Riverside came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Riverside, California, this large public school handed out 311 diplomas to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.

UCR not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Riverside is $11,822 for California Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

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

9

With a ranking of #9, University of California - Berkeley did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Berkeley, California, this large public school handed out 285 diplomas to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.

UC Berkeley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” list. It costs about $16,032 for California Visual & Performing Arts students with aid per year to attend University of California - Berkeley.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, 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 96%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at UC Berkeley

10

University of California - San Diego landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. UCSD is located in La Jolla, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 269 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

UCSD also took the #11 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $15,240 for california visual & performing arts students with aid per year to attend University of California - San Diego.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. 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 UCSD Visual & Performing Arts Report

11

California State University - Fresno came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Fresno, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 163 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Fresno State is $6,230 for california visual & performing arts students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

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

12
San Jose State crest
San Jose State University
San Jose, California

With a ranking of #12, San Jose State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. San Jose State University is located in San Jose, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 495 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california visual & performing arts students with aid list, San Jose State has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend San Jose State is $16,542 for california visual & performing arts students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

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

13

University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. UCSB is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 398 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

UCSB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” list. It costs about $16,252 for California Visual & Performing Arts students with aid per year to attend University of California - Santa Barbara.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at UCSB

14

With a ranking of #14, University of California - Davis did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Davis, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 454 students in 2020-2021.

UC Davis also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $15,768 for California Visual & Performing Arts students with aid per year to attend University of California - Davis.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

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

15

California State University - East Bay came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State University - East Bay is a fairly large school located in Hayward, California that handed out 154 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for California State University - East Bay is $13,298 for california visual & performing arts students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 Cal State East Bay

16
SDSU crest
San Diego State University
San Diego, California

San Diego State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 373 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

SDSU also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” list, coming in at #23. The yearly cost to attend San Diego State University is $13,845 for California Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad 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 full report on Visual & Performing Arts at SDSU

17

California State University - Sacramento ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Sac State is a large school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 272 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Sac State is $11,178 for california visual & performing arts students with aid.

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

18
SFSU crest
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

With a ranking of #18, San Francisco State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. San Francisco State University is a large school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 646 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

SFSU also took the #21 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SFSU is $14,459 for california visual & performing arts students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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%.

Full SFSU Visual & Performing Arts Report

19

California State University - Stanislaus ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Stan State is a fairly large school located in Turlock, California that handed out 61 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend California State University - Stanislaus is $6,566 for California Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

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

20

California State University - Dominguez Hills came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Carson, California, and it awarded 109 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for CSUDH is $4,026 for California Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at CSUDH

21

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Cal Poly Pomona is a public institution located in Pomona, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 192 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Cal Poly Pomona is $14,304 for California Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Cal Poly Pomona Visual & Performing Arts Report

22

University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. University of California - Santa Cruz is a fairly large school located in Santa Cruz, California that handed out 508 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

UC Santa Cruz did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” list. It costs about $17,930 for California Visual & Performing Arts students with aid per year to attend University of California - Santa Cruz.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

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

23
San Diego Mesa College crest
San Diego Mesa College
San Diego, California

San Diego Mesa College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #23. San Diego Mesa College is a fairly large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 87 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $5,573 for california visual & performing arts students with aid per year to attend San Diego Mesa College.

Full San Diego Mesa College Visual & Performing Arts Report

24

With a ranking of #24, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a large school located in San Luis Obispo, California that handed out 70 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is $20,677 for california visual & performing arts students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

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

25

California State University - Channel Islands ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Camarillo, California, this medium-sized public school awarded 85 degrees to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend California State University - Channel Islands is $14,928 for California Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

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 Visual & Performing Arts at CSUCI

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options