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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Fine Arts in California (With Aid)

21 Ranked Colleges
228 Degrees Awarded
$32,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master's in California For Those Getting Aid

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Fine Arts is the 67th most popular major in the country with 12,032 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across California, there were 1,478 fine arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 228 fine arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 21 colleges that offer a degree in fine arts. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent fine 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 fine arts program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Fine 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 Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid.

Top 21 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Fine Arts in California (With Aid)

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. Stanford University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Stanford, California. It awarded 6 masters’s fine arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree fine arts students with aid list, Stanford has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011.

Read full report on Fine Arts at Stanford University

#19 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Los Angeles. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid. Cal State LA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA also took the #19 spot in our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State LA are $17,723.

Full California State University - Los Angeles Fine Arts Report

#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fullerton. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - Fullerton is a public institution located in Fullerton, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 12 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton also made our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Fine Arts at California State University - Fullerton

#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Long Beach. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. CSULB is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 13 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSULB, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784.

Read full report on Fine Arts at CSULB

#16 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Northridge. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid. Northridge, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s fine arts degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree fine arts students with aid list, CSUN has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Fine Arts at California State University - Northridge

#20 in overall quality

California State University - San Bernardino did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. California State University - San Bernardino is located in San Bernardino, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s fine arts degrees to qualified students.

CSUSB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - San Bernardino are $17,936.

Read more about Fine Arts at CSUSB

#7

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#12 in overall quality

San Diego State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. SDSU is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 6 masters’s fine arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree fine arts students with aid list, SDSU has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Fine Arts at SDSU

#8

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, San Jose State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in San Jose, California, and it awarded 7 masters’s fine arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree fine arts students with aid list, San Jose State has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State are $18,790, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Fine Arts at San Jose State

#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, University of California - Berkeley did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Berkeley, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s fine arts degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also made our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347.

Full University of California - Berkeley Fine Arts Report

#10

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#5 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. University of California - Santa Barbara is located in Santa Barbara, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s fine arts degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree fine arts students with aid list, UCSB has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSB are $28,670, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Fine Arts at UCSB

#11

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, San Francisco State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. SFSU is a large school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 3 masters’s fine arts degrees in 2019-2020.

SFSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Fine Arts at San Francisco State University

With a ranking of #12, California State University - Chico did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Chico, California, this fairly large public school awarded 1 degrees to qualified masters’s fine arts students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Chico State, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Chico are $18,802, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Fine Arts at California State University - Chico

#13

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Santa Cruz, California, this fairly large public school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s fine arts students in 2019-2020.

UC Santa Cruz also took the #17 spot in our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Fine Arts at UC Santa Cruz

#14

Mills College

Oakland, California
#11 in overall quality

Mills College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Mills is a small school located in Oakland, California that handed out 9 masters’s fine arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Mills not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mills are $36,263, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Fine Arts at Mills College

#15

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

University of Southern California came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 10 masters’s fine arts degrees in 2019-2020.

USC also made our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at USC are $48,715, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Fine Arts at University of Southern California

#16

Laguna College of Art and Design

Laguna Beach, California
#18 in overall quality

Laguna College of Art and Design ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Laguna College of Art and Design is a small school located in Laguna Beach, California that handed out 12 masters’s fine arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at LCAD, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at LCAD are $37,700.

Read more about Fine Arts at Laguna College of Art and Design

#17

California College of the Arts

San Francisco, California
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, California College of the Arts did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. California College of the Arts is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

California College of the Arts also made our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at California College of the Arts are $53,795, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Fine Arts at California College of the Arts

#18

Art Center College of Design

Pasadena, California

Art Center College of Design landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Pasadena, California, and it awarded 1 masters’s fine arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Art Center College of Design, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. 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 Fine Arts at Art Center College of Design

#19

California Institute of the Arts

Valencia, California
#9 in overall quality

California Institute of the Arts landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Valencia, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s fine arts degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

CalArts also made our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Institute of the Arts are $53,466, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Fine Arts at California Institute of the Arts

#20

San Francisco Art Institute

San Francisco, California
#6 in overall quality

San Francisco Art Institute did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. San Francisco, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s fine arts degrees to 51 students in 2019-2020.

SFAI also took the #6 spot in our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SFAI are $48,250, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Fine Arts at SFAI

#21

Otis College of Art and Design

Los Angeles, California
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, Otis College of Art and Design did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 17 masters’s fine arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Otis College of Art and Design, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Otis College of Art and Design are $49,680, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Fine Arts at Otis College of Art and Design

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.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Jorge Royan.

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