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2022 Most Popular Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in California

80 Colleges in California
1,223 Associate Degrees
$24,687 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 80 schools in California to determine which ones were the most popular for design and applied arts students pursuing a associate degree. Combined, these schools handed out 1,223 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 California The design associate degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. We created our Most Popular Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in California ranking to make it a little easier to choose the right one for you.

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.

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

1
318 Annual Associate Degrees
#1 Best Quality In CA
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles is a popular decision for students interested in 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 students who graduated with this degree at FIDM Los Angeles in the most recent data year.

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
#9 Best Quality In CA
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

You'll be surrounded by many like-minded peers at Platt College - San Diego if you wish to pursue an associate degree in design and applied arts. Platt College - San Diego is a small private for-profit college located in the 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 approximately 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 an average of $23,000 at the beginning of their careers.

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

3
SMC crest
Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, CA
53 Annual Associate Degrees
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

Santa Monica College is a popular decision for individuals pursuing an associate degree in design and applied arts. Located in the city of Santa Monica, SMC is a public college with a very large student population.

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

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

4
Sierra College crest
Sierra College
Rocklin, CA
46 Annual Associate Degrees
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

Any student pursuing a degree in an associate degree in design and applied arts needs to take a look at Sierra College. Sierra College is a fairly large public college located in the suburb of Rocklin.

There were roughly 46 design and applied arts individuals who graduated with this degree at Sierra College in the most recent data year.

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

5
36 Annual Associate Degrees
#8 Best Quality In CA
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

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 individuals who graduated with this degree at Interior Designers Institute in the most recent data year.

Those design and applied arts students who get their associate degree from Interior Designers Institute make $9,813 more than the typical design grad.

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

6
29 Annual Associate Degrees
#5 Best Quality In CA
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the large city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a public college with a fairly 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 about 29 design and applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Los Angeles Trade Technical College in the most recent year we have data available.

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

7
Palomar College crest
Palomar College
San Marcos, CA
28 Annual Associate Degrees
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

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

There were approximately 28 design and applied arts individuals 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

8
24 Annual Associate Degrees
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

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

There were approximately 24 design and applied arts students 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

9
23 Annual Associate Degrees
#7 Best Quality In CA
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

Mt. SAC is a very large public college located in the large suburb of Walnut. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #7 in quality for associate degrees in design and applied arts in California.

There were roughly 23 design and applied arts individuals who graduated with this degree at Mt. SAC in the most recent data year.

More information about a associate in design and applied arts from Mt. San Antonio College

10

11
Diablo Valley crest
Diablo Valley College
Pleasant Hill, CA
21 Annual Associate Degrees
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Diablo Valley is a public college with a fairly large student population.

There were approximately 21 design and applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Diablo Valley in the most recent data year.

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

11
College of the Canyons crest
College of the Canyons
Santa Clarita, CA
21 Annual Associate Degrees
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

College of the Canyons is a fairly large public college located in the suburb of Santa Clarita.

There were about 21 design and applied arts students who graduated with this degree at College of the Canyons in the most recent data year.

More information about a associate in design and applied arts from College of the Canyons

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in California award.

Rank College Location
13 Fullerton College Fullerton, CA
14 Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa, CA
15 Academy of Art University San Francisco, CA
15 Foothill College Los Altos Hills, CA
15 San Joaquin Delta College Stockton, CA
15 West Valley College Saratoga, CA
15 Modesto Junior College Modesto, CA
15 San Bernardino Valley College San Bernardino, CA
15 Santa Barbara City College Santa Barbara, CA

Best Design & Applied Arts Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
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 518
Fashion Design 282
Interior Design 224
Visual Communications 105
Game & Interactive Media Design 44
Commercial & Advertising Art 38
Illustration 12

Related Major Annual Graduates
Fine & Studio Arts 2,158
Music 1,220
Drama & Theater Arts 712
General Visual & Performing Arts 678
Film, Video & Photographic Arts 583
Dance 100
Arts & Media Management 13
Other Visual Art 12

Notes and References

Popular Reports

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