2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2019-2020, 36,854 people earned their degree in design and applied arts, making the major the 34th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, design and applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $29,542 and had an average of $27,114 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Far Western US region, there were 6,083 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,399 and $27,675 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 1,613 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,689 and $18,419 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 20 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in design and applied arts. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent design and applied 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 design and applied arts program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
Featured schools near , edit
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools 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 Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 20 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Santa Rosa Junior College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Santa Rosa, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 19 students in 2019-2020.
SRJC also took the #3 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Santa Rosa Junior College is $4,975 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $30-$48k.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Mt. San Antonio College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Mt. San Antonio College is a large public school situated in Walnut, California. It awarded 23 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
Mt. SAC also took the #12 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $1,599 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Mt. SAC.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Clover Park Technical College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Clover Park Technical College is located in Lakewood, Washington and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 24 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $30-$48k list, CPTC has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Clover Park Technical College is $7,930 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend College of Southern Nevada. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it awarded 55 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
CSN did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $5,911 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend College of Southern Nevada.
Full College of Southern Nevada Design & Applied Arts Report
Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Spokane Falls Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. Spokane Falls Community College is a public institution located in Spokane, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 37 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Spokane Falls Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Spokane Falls Community College is $5,589 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Spokane Falls Community College
Mt. Hood Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. MHCC is a medium-sized school located in Gresham, Oregon that handed out 29 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
MHCC also took the #17 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for MHCC is $5,855 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Portland Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. Portland Community College is a large school located in Portland, Oregon that handed out 50 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
Portland Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Portland Community College is $8,219 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Portland Community College
Bellevue College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. BC is a fairly large public school situated in Bellevue, Washington. It awarded 31 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
BC also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $7,478 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Bellevue College.
With a ranking of #9, Chemeketa Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Chemeketa Community College is a medium-sized school located in Salem, Oregon that handed out 8 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $30-$48k list, Chemeketa Community College has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $5,417 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Chemeketa Community College.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Chemeketa Community College
Los Angeles Trade Technical College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a fairly large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 29 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Los Angeles Trade Technical College, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Los Angeles Trade Technical College is $6,814 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Truckee Meadows Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Truckee Meadows Community College is a fairly large school located in Reno, Nevada that handed out 3 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Truckee Meadows Community College, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Truckee Meadows Community College is $9,372 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Truckee Meadows Community College
Lake Washington Institute of Technology landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Lake Washington Institute of Technology is located in Kirkland, Washington and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $30-$48k list, LWTech has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for LWTech is $6,852 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Lake Washington Institute of Technology Design & Applied Arts Report
Lane Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. Eugene, Oregon is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.
Lane Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Lane Community College is $9,368 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Lane Community College
Chaminade University of Honolulu came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Chaminade University of Honolulu is a private not-for-profit institution located in Honolulu, Hawaii. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Chaminade University of Honolulu not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $18,321 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Chaminade University of Honolulu.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Chaminade University of Honolulu
Platt College - San Diego came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Platt College - San Diego is a small school located in San Diego, California that handed out 75 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
Platt College - San Diego did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $24,640 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Platt College - San Diego.
Mount Saint Mary’s University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Mount Saint Mary’s University is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.
MSMU also took the #6 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $27,376 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Mount Saint Mary’s University.
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%. 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.
FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. FIDM Los Angeles is a small school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 318 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at FIDM Los Angeles, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles is $38,804 for far western us region associate degree design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Academy of Art University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #19. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 18 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
Academy of Art University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $34,125 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Academy of Art University.
Platt College - Ontario ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Platt College - Ontario is located in Ontario, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Platt College - Ontario, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Platt College - Ontario is $24,002 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Platt College - Ontario
Narrow Results by Region
Southeast
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Southeast Region
Rocky Mountains
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region
Middle Atlantic
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region
Southwest
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region
New England
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the New England Region
Plains States
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Far Western US
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region
Great Lakes
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
Narrow Results by State
Switch to a Similar Major
General Visual & Performing Arts
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for General Visual & Performing Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region
Drama & Theater Arts
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region
Fine & Studio Arts
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Fine & Studio Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region
Arts & Media Management
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Arts & Media Management (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region
Dance
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Dance (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region
Film, Video & Photographic Arts
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Film, Video & Photographic Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region
Music
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Music (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region
Switch to a More Focused Major
Visual Communications
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Visual Communications (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region
Commercial Photography
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Commercial Photography (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region
Interior Design
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Interior Design (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region
Illustration
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Illustration (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region
Commercial & Advertising Art
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Commercial & Advertising Art (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region
Fashion Design
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Fashion Design (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region
Graphic Design
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Graphic Design (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region
Game & Interactive Media Design
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Game & Interactive Media Design (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region
Design & Applied Arts students in the Far Western US Region
Most Focused Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Far Western US Region
Design & Applied Arts students in the Far Western US Region
Most Popular Associate Degree Online Design & Applied Arts Schools
Design & Applied Arts students in the Far Western US Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region
Design & Applied Arts students with family income less than $30k in the Far Western US Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $48-$75k) in the Far Western US Region
Design & Applied Arts students with family income $48-$75k in the Far Western US Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income Over $110k) in the Far Western US Region
Design & Applied Arts students with family income exceeding $110k in the Far Western US Region
Highest Paid Associate Degree Design & Applied Arts Graduates in the Far Western US Region
Design & Applied Arts students in the Far Western US Region
Most Popular Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Far Western US Region
Design & Applied Arts students in the Far Western US Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Far Western US Region (With Aid)
Design & Applied Arts students getting aid in the Far Western US Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region
Design & Applied Arts students with family income $30-$48k in the Far Western US Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $75-$110k) in the Far Western US Region
Design & Applied Arts students with family income $75-$110k in the Far Western US Region
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.
Featured Performing Arts 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 > |