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2022 Most Popular Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Far Western US Region

103 Colleges in the Far Western US Region
1,613 Associate Degrees
$24,335 Avg Early-Career Salary
If you pursue a associate degree in design and applied arts, you won't be alone. The field of study is the #18 most popular program in the country. This makes choosing the right school a hard decision.

For its 2022 ranking, College Factual looked at 103 schools in the Far Western US Region to determine which ones were the most popular for design and applied arts students pursuing a associate degree. Combined, these schools handed out 1,613 associate degrees in design and applied arts to qualified students.

What's on this page: * Other Rankings

Choosing a Great Design & Applied Arts School for Your Associate Degree

Most Popular Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Far Western US Region The design associate degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. One of the reasons we created our Most Popular Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Far Western US Region ranking is to help you make that choice.

A high popularity ranking isn't always a sign that a school has a great overall quality ranking for design and applied arts, but it does mean that many students are choosing the school for some reason. Sometimes this is because the school offers a great educational experience, it is a good value, or it is highly focused on the program.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Bachelor's Degrees in Design
Master's Degrees in Design
Overall Popularity in Design

This is not our only ranking, nor the only degree level we have ranked. In addition to this ranking, you may want to take at the rankings for different degree levels as called out above. You can also narrow your search by location by filtering for a certain area of the country. Plus, you can view our other rankings for design and applied arts.

The following list ranks the most popular colleges and universities for pursuing an associate degree in design and applied arts. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

15 Most Well Attended Schools for Design Students Working on Their Associate

1
318 Annual Associate Degrees
#1 Most Popular In CA
#1 Best Quality In CA

You'll be surrounded by many like-minded peers at FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles if you wish to pursue an associate degree in design and applied arts. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, FIDM Los Angeles is a private for-profit school with a small student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #1 in quality for associate degrees in design and applied arts in California.

There were about 318 design and applied arts individuals who graduated with this degree at FIDM Los Angeles in the most recent year we have data available.

Students who graduate with their associate from the design program report average early career income of $24,900.

More information about a associate in design and applied arts from FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles

2
75 Annual Associate Degrees
#2 Most Popular In CA
#9 Best Quality In CA

Platt College - San Diego is a popular choice for students pursuing an associate degree in design and applied arts. Platt College - San Diego is a small private for-profit college located in the large city of San Diego. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #9 in quality for associate degrees in design and applied arts in California.

There were roughly 75 design and applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Platt College - San Diego in the most recent year we have data available.

After graduating, design associate recipients usually earn around $23,000 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a associate in design and applied arts from Platt College - San Diego

3
55 Annual Associate Degrees
#1 Most Popular In NV
#1 Best Quality In NV

College of Southern Nevada is one of the most popular schools in the United States for getting an associate degree in design and applied arts. Located in the large city of Las Vegas, CSN is a public college with a very large student population. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #1 in quality for associate degrees in design and applied arts in Nevada.

There were roughly 55 design and applied arts individuals who graduated with this degree at CSN in the most recent year we have data available.

Students who graduate with their associate from the design program report average early career income of $23,900.

More information about a associate in design and applied arts from College of Southern Nevada

4
SMC crest
Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, CA
53 Annual Associate Degrees
#3 Most Popular In CA
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

You'll be surrounded by many like-minded peers at Santa Monica College if you wish to pursue an associate degree in design and applied arts. Located in the small city of Santa Monica, SMC is a public college with a very large student population.

There were approximately 53 design and applied arts individuals who graduated with this degree at SMC in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a associate in design and applied arts from Santa Monica College

5
52 Annual Associate Degrees
#1 Most Popular In WA
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the large city of Seattle, Seattle Central is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

There were about 52 design and applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Seattle Central in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a associate in design and applied arts from Seattle Central College

6
50 Annual Associate Degrees
#1 Most Popular In OR
#1 Best Quality In OR

Portland Community College is a very large public college located in the large city of Portland. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #1 in quality for associate degrees in design and applied arts in Oregon.

There were roughly 50 design and applied arts individuals who graduated with this degree at Portland Community College in the most recent year we have data available.

Design & Applied Arts associate degree recipients from Portland Community College receive an earnings boost of around $4,265 over the typical income of design and applied arts graduates.

More information about a associate in design and applied arts from Portland Community College

7
Sierra College crest
Sierra College
Rocklin, CA
46 Annual Associate Degrees
#4 Most Popular In CA
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

Sierra College is a large public college located in the suburb of Rocklin.

There were about 46 design and applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Sierra College in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a associate in design and applied arts from Sierra College

8
37 Annual Associate Degrees
#2 Most Popular In WA
#4 Best Quality In WA

Spokane Falls Community College is a small public college located in the medium-sized city of Spokane. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #4 in quality for associate degrees in design and applied arts in Washington.

There were approximately 37 design and applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Spokane Falls Community College in the most recent year we have data available.

After graduation, design associate recipients usually earn an average of $21,900 in their early careers.

More information about a associate in design and applied arts from Spokane Falls Community College

9
36 Annual Associate Degrees
#5 Most Popular In CA
#8 Best Quality In CA

Interior Designers Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the small city of Newport Beach. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #8 in quality for associate degrees in design and applied arts in California.

There were about 36 design and applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Interior Designers Institute in the most recent year we have data available.

Those design and applied arts students who get their associate degree from Interior Designers Institute make $10,165 more than the standard design student.

More information about a associate in design and applied arts from Interior Designers Institute

10
BC crest
Bellevue College
Bellevue, WA
31 Annual Associate Degrees
#3 Most Popular In WA
#2 Best Quality In WA

Located in the city of Bellevue, BC is a public college with a large student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #2 in quality for associate degrees in design and applied arts in Washington.

There were roughly 31 design and applied arts individuals who graduated with this degree at BC in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a associate in design and applied arts from Bellevue College

11
29 Annual Associate Degrees
#2 Most Popular In OR
#3 Best Quality In OR

Located in the large suburb of Gresham, MHCC is a public college with a medium-sized student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #3 in quality for associate degrees in design and applied arts in Oregon.

There were approximately 29 design and applied arts students who graduated with this degree at MHCC in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a associate in design and applied arts from Mt. Hood Community College

11
29 Annual Associate Degrees
#6 Most Popular In CA
#5 Best Quality In CA

Located in the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a public college with a large student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #5 in quality for associate degrees in design and applied arts in California.

There were approximately 29 design and applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Los Angeles Trade Technical College in the most recent data year.

More information about a associate in design and applied arts from Los Angeles Trade Technical College

13
Palomar College crest
Palomar College
San Marcos, CA
28 Annual Associate Degrees
#7 Most Popular In CA
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a public college with a very large student population.

There were roughly 28 design and applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Palomar College in the most recent data year.

More information about a associate in design and applied arts from Palomar College

14
24 Annual Associate Degrees
#4 Most Popular In WA
#1 Best Quality In WA

Located in the city of Lakewood, CPTC is a public college with a small student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #1 in quality for associate degrees in design and applied arts in Washington.

There were approximately 24 design and applied arts students who graduated with this degree at CPTC in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a associate in design and applied arts from Clover Park Technical College

14
24 Annual Associate Degrees
#8 Most Popular In CA
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

San Diego Mesa College is a fairly large public college located in the large city of San Diego.

There were approximately 24 design and applied arts individuals who graduated with this degree at San Diego Mesa College in the most recent data year.

More information about a associate in design and applied arts from San Diego Mesa College

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional great schools for Design & Applied Arts students in the Far Western US Region that almost earned our Most Popular Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Far Western US Region award.

Rank College Location
16 Mt. San Antonio College Walnut, CA
17 FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - San Francisco San Francisco, CA
18 College of the Canyons Santa Clarita, CA
18 Diablo Valley College Pleasant Hill, CA
20 Fullerton College Fullerton, CA
21 Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa, CA
22 Santa Barbara City College Santa Barbara, CA
22 San Bernardino Valley College San Bernardino, CA
22 Foothill College Los Altos Hills, CA
22 San Joaquin Delta College Stockton, CA
22 Modesto Junior College Modesto, CA
22 West Valley College Saratoga, CA
22 Academy of Art University San Francisco, CA

Best Design & Applied Arts Colleges by State

Explore the most popular design and applied arts colleges for a specific state in the Far Western US Region .

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
California 179 1,218
Oregon 142 140
Washington 126 201
Nevada 109 74
Hawaii 57 5

View All Rankings >

One of 10 majors within the Visual & Performing Arts area of study, Design & Applied Arts has other similar majors worth exploring.

Design Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Graphic Design 566
Interior Design 321
Fashion Design 308
Visual Communications 166
Commercial & Advertising Art 123
Game & Interactive Media Design 60
Commercial Photography 52
Illustration 15
Industrial Design 2

Related Major Annual Graduates
Fine & Studio Arts 2,202
Music 1,326
Drama & Theater Arts 726
General Visual & Performing Arts 693
Film, Video & Photographic Arts 599
Dance 100
Arts & Media Management 18
Other Visual Art 14

Notes and References

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
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