2023 Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid
35
Ranked Colleges
4,575
Degrees Awarded
$22,900
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Design & Applied Arts is the 36th most popular major in the country with 36,301 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, design and applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,426 and had an average of $25,481 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 4,575 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,016 and $26,876 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 35 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in design and applied arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality design and applied 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 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.
More Ways to Rank Design & Applied Arts Schools
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in California (With Aid)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Long Beach. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid. Located in Long Beach, California, this large public school awarded 141 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
CSULB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in California” list. It costs about $10,054 for california design students with aid per year to attend California State University - Long Beach.
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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at CSULB
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Jose State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid. San Jose State University is a public institution located in San Jose, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 201 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
San Jose State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in California” list. It costs about $16,542 for california design students with aid per year to attend San Jose State University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at San Jose State University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid. UCLA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 61 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UCLA also took the #4 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Los Angeles is $15,023 for California Design students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at UCLA
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Davis. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid. University of California - Davis is located in Davis, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 228 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
UC Davis also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Davis is $15,768 for California Design students with aid.
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 full report on Design & Applied Arts at UC Davis
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fresno. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid. Fresno State is a public institution located in Fresno, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 48 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Fresno State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Fresno State is $6,230 for California Design students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Fresno State
California State University - Sacramento ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Sacramento, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 55 students in 2020-2021.
Sac State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Sacramento is $11,178 for California Design 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%.
Full Sac State Design & Applied Arts Report
San Francisco State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. San Francisco State University is a large public school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 202 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
SFSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in California” list. It costs about $14,459 for california design students with aid per year to attend SFSU.
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 Design & Applied Arts Report
With a ranking of #8, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Cal Poly Pomona is located in Pomona, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 113 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
Cal Poly Pomona also took the #14 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cal Poly Pomona is $14,304 for california design students with aid.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Cal Poly Pomona
Los Angeles Trade Technical College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Los Angeles Trade Technical College is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 56 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
Los Angeles Trade Technical College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Los Angeles Trade Technical College is $9,346 for california design students with aid.
Full Los Angeles Trade Technical College Design & Applied Arts Report
San Diego Mesa College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. San Diego Mesa College is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 38 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend San Diego Mesa College is $5,573 for California Design students with aid.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at San Diego Mesa College
University of California - San Diego landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of California - San Diego is located in La Jolla, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
UCSD also took the #16 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of California - San Diego is $15,240 for california design students with aid.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at University of California - San Diego
California State University - Chico ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - Chico is a fairly large school located in Chico, California that handed out 143 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Chico State, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $16,218 for California Design students with aid per year to attend Chico State.
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%.
Full Chico State Design & Applied Arts Report
California State University - Monterey Bay came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State University - Monterey Bay is located in Seaside, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 32 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend California State University - Monterey Bay is $13,597 for california design students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full CSUMB Design & Applied Arts Report
University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Santa Cruz, California, this fairly large public school handed out 108 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
UC Santa Cruz also took the #15 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Santa Cruz is $17,930 for california design students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UC Santa Cruz Design & Applied Arts Report
Woodbury University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Burbank, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 30 students in 2020-2021.
Woodbury did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in California” list. It costs about $29,715 for California Design students with aid per year to attend Woodbury University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Woodbury University
Academy of Art University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Academy of Art University is located in San Francisco, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 170 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
Academy of Art University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Academy of Art University is $36,143 for California Design students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% 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 Academy of Art University Design & Applied Arts Report
University of Southern California came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Southern California is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 67 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at USC, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Southern California is $32,569 for california design students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Full USC Design & Applied Arts Report
University of Redlands landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Redlands, California, and it awarded 25 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
University of Redlands not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in California” list. It costs about $26,098 for california design students with aid per year to attend University of Redlands.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of Redlands
Design Institute of San Diego did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. Design Institute of San Diego is a small private for-profit school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 18 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Design Institute of San Diego is $40,842 for California Design students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Design Institute of San Diego
Cogswell College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. Located in San Jose, California, this small private for-profit school awarded 29 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $25,714 for California Design students with aid per year to attend Cogswell College.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Cogswell College Design & Applied Arts Report
With a ranking of #21, Columbia College Hollywood did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Columbia College Hollywood is a private not-for-profit institution located in Tarzana, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Columbia College Hollywood is $32,909 for california design students with aid.
Full Columbia College Hollywood Design & Applied Arts Report
FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles is a small private for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 288 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at FIDM Los Angeles, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $40,793 for California Design students with aid per year to attend FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at FIDM Los Angeles
Laguna College of Art and Design ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Laguna College of Art and Design is a private not-for-profit institution located in Laguna Beach, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 100 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california design students with aid list, LCAD has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Laguna College of Art and Design is $35,944 for california design students with aid.
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%.
Full Laguna College of Art and Design Design & Applied Arts Report
Art Center College of Design ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid 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 276 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Art Center College of Design, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $46,054 for California Design students with aid per year to attend Art Center College of Design.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. 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%.
Full Art Center College of Design Design & Applied Arts Report
Otis College of Art and Design landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 129 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Otis College of Art and Design did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in California” list. It costs about $45,026 for california design students with aid per year to attend Otis College of Art and Design.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Otis College of Art and Design Design & Applied Arts Report
