Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Design & Applied Arts

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region

12 Ranked Colleges
285 Degrees Awarded
$37,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Design Schools for a Master's in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k

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 Design Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

Design & Applied Arts is the 34th most popular major in the country with 36,854 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 285 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $59,319 and $48,880 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 12 colleges that offered a degree 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the design and applied 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.

More Ways to Rank Design & Applied Arts 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 Design Schools for a Master’s 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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 12 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region

#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UW Seattle is a large public school situated in Seattle, Washington. It awarded 7 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW Seattle, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Washington - Seattle Campus Design & Applied Arts Report

#2

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s design degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCLA, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UCLA Design & Applied Arts Report

#3

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Southern California. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 25 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

USC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Southern California Design & Applied Arts Report

#4

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Francisco State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in San Francisco, California, this large public school awarded 3 degrees to qualified masters’s design students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SFSU, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Francisco State University are $17,944, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at San Francisco State University

#5

University of Oregon

Eugene, Oregon
#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Oregon. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Eugene, Oregon is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s design degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region master’s degree design students whose families make $30-$48k list, UO has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Oregon are $29,991, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at UO

#6

California College of the Arts

San Francisco, California

California College of the Arts did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. San Francisco, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s design degrees to 44 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at California College of the Arts, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California College of the Arts are $53,795, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at California College of the Arts

#7

Art Center College of Design

Pasadena, California
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Art Center College of Design did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Art Center College of Design is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pasadena, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 29 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Art Center College of Design not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Art Center College of Design are $49,090.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Art Center College of Design

#8

Laguna College of Art and Design

Laguna Beach, California
#9 in overall quality

Laguna College of Art and Design came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. LCAD is a private not-for-profit institution located in Laguna Beach, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

LCAD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Laguna College of Art and Design are $37,700, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Laguna College of Art and Design

#9

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California

Academy of Art University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. San Francisco, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out masters’s design degrees to 102 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Academy of Art University, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Academy of Art University are $27,688, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Academy of Art University

#10

Otis College of Art and Design

Los Angeles, California
#8 in overall quality

Otis College of Art and Design did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s design degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

Otis College of Art and Design did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Otis College of Art and Design are $49,680.

Full Otis College of Art and Design Design & Applied Arts Report

Pacific Northwest College of Art came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Portland, Oregon, and it awarded 16 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Pacific Northwest College of Art not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Pacific Northwest College of Art are $35,772, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Pacific Northwest College of Art

#12

New York Film Academy

Burbank, California
#11 in overall quality

New York Film Academy came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Burbank, California, and it awarded 8 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

New York Film Academy also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #11. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at New York Film Academy are $35,457.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at New York Film Academy

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

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

Find Schools Near You