2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Computer Software & Applications in California (With Aid)

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Computer Software Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Computer Software & Applications is the 90th most popular major in the country with 13,180 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, computer software and applications graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $34,738 and had an average of $32,112 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 1,407 computer software and applications graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,960 and $34,966 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 179 computer software and applications graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,451 and $19,634 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Computer Software Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 2 colleges that offer a degree in computer software and applications. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality computer software and applications 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 computer software and applications program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Computer Software & Applications Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Computer Software Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Computer Software Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Computer Software Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid.

Top 2 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Computer Software & Applications in California (With Aid)

#1

Laurus College

San Luis Obispo, California

#2 in overall quality

$11,878 Average Net Price

$21,781 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Laurus College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Computer Software Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Laurus College is a private for-profit institution located in San Luis Obispo, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Laurus College, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Computer Software & Applications Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Laurus College is $11,878 for California Associate Degree Computer Software students with aid.

Full Laurus College Computer Software & Applications Report

#2

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California

#1 in overall quality

$34,145 Average Net Price

$27,439 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Academy of Art University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Computer Software Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid. Located in San Francisco, California, this medium-sized private for-profit school awarded 41 degrees to qualified associates’s computer software students in 2019-2020.

Academy of Art University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Computer Software & Applications Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Academy of Art University is $34,145 for California Associate Degree Computer Software students with aid.

Full Academy of Art University Computer Software & Applications Report

• Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Computer Software & Applications in the Far Western US Region (With Aid)
• Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Computer Software & Applications (With Aid)

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.

Credits

• Credit for the banner image above goes to Negative Space.

Featured Computer Science / Programming Schools

Request Info

Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More >