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2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California

14 Ranked Colleges
6,699 Degrees Awarded
$26,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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 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” ranking looked at 14 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the visual and performing arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 for an Associate in California”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California

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

Top 14 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts 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 that were part of this year’s ranking, Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #1 spot on the list. Santa Rosa Junior College is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Rosa, California. It awarded 79 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

SRJC also took the #4 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $5,782 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students per year to attend Santa Rosa Junior College.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Santa Rosa Junior College

#2

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 #2 for the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California. 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.

Los Angeles Trade Technical College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Los Angeles Trade Technical College is $6,907 for california associate degree visual & performing arts students.

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

#3

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 #3 for the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California. Mt. San Antonio College is located in Walnut, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 100 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

Mt. SAC also took the #8 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mt. SAC is $1,729 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students.

Full Mt. SAC Visual & Performing Arts Report

#4

Columbia College Hollywood

Tarzana, California
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Columbia College Hollywood. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California 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.

Columbia College Hollywood also took 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.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Columbia College Hollywood

#5

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Academy of Art University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California list. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 70 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees 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 estimated yearly cost for Academy of Art University is $34,145 for california associate degree visual & performing arts students.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Academy of Art University

#1 in overall quality

FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California ranking. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and 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. The estimated yearly cost for FIDM Los Angeles is $41,505 for california associate degree visual & performing arts students.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at FIDM Los Angeles

#8

Pacific Union College

Angwin, California
#9 in overall quality

Pacific Union College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Located in Angwin, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 1 degrees to qualified associates’s visual and performing arts students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at PUC, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $21,835 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students per year to attend PUC.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Pacific Union College

#9

Interior Designers Institute

Newport Beach, California
#11 in overall quality

Interior Designers Institute landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Interior Designers Institute is a small private for-profit school situated in Newport Beach, California. 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 $29,030 for california associate degree visual & performing arts students.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Interior Designers Institute

#10

Platt College - San Diego

San Diego, California
#12 in overall quality

Platt College - San Diego ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California list. This small school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 75 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Platt College - San Diego did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Platt College - San Diego is $26,218 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Platt College - San Diego

#11

Platt College - Ontario

Ontario, California
#13 in overall quality

Platt College - Ontario ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California list. Platt College - Ontario is a small private for-profit school situated in Ontario, California. It awarded 15 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Platt College - Ontario also took the #13 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $23,287 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students per year to attend Platt College - Ontario.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Platt College - Ontario

#12

Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, California
#6 in overall quality

Mount Saint Mary’s University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California ranking. MSMU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 1 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees 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. It costs about $29,214 for california associate degree visual & performing arts students per year to attend Mount Saint Mary’s University.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. 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%.

Full Mount Saint Mary’s University Visual & Performing Arts Report

#13

New York Film Academy

Burbank, California
#14 in overall quality

New York Film Academy ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California list. New York Film Academy is a small school located in Burbank, California that handed out 31 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

New York Film Academy did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for New York Film Academy is $45,280 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students.

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%. 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.

Full New York Film Academy Visual & Performing Arts Report

#14

SAE Expression College

Emeryville, California
#15 in overall quality

SAE Expression College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California list. Emeryville, 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 1 students in 2019-2020.

SAE Expression College also took the #15 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SAE Expression College is $31,931 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students.

Full SAE Expression College 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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