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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $30-$48k) in California

14 Ranked Colleges
6,699 Degrees Awarded
$25,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

With 155,377 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, visual and performing arts is the 10th most popular major in the United States. In 2017-2018, visual and performing arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $25,427 and had an average of $28,377 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 25,365 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $25,067 and $32,687 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 6,699 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,451 and $19,634 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 14 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in visual and performing arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality visual and performing 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 visual and performing 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 Visual & Performing 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 Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for california associate degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 14 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $30-$48k) in California

#1

Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa, California
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #1 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Santa Rosa, California, and it awarded 79 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

SRJC also took the #4 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Santa Rosa Junior College is $4,975 for california associate degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Santa Rosa Junior College Visual & Performing Arts Report

#2

Mt. San Antonio College

Walnut, California
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Mt. San Antonio College landed the #2 spot on the list. Mt. San Antonio College is located in Walnut, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 100 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california associate degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $30-$48k list, Mt. SAC has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mt. SAC is $1,599 for california associate degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Mt. San Antonio College

#3

Los Angeles Trade Technical College

Los Angeles, California
#7 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Los Angeles Trade Technical College landed the #3 spot on the list. Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 29 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Los Angeles Trade Technical College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Los Angeles Trade Technical College is $6,814 for california associate degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Los Angeles Trade Technical College

#4

Pacific Union College

Angwin, California
#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Pacific Union College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k. Pacific Union College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Angwin, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

PUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Pacific Union College is $16,984 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at PUC

#6

Platt College - San Diego

San Diego, California
#12 in overall quality

Platt College - San Diego ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Platt College - San Diego is a small school located in San Diego, California that handed out 75 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Platt College - San Diego did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Platt College - San Diego is $24,640 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Platt College - San Diego Visual & Performing Arts Report

#7

Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, California
#6 in overall quality

Mount Saint Mary’s University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associates’s visual and performing arts degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

MSMU also took the #6 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mount Saint Mary’s University is $27,376 for california associate degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Mount Saint Mary’s University

#8

Columbia College Hollywood

Tarzana, California
#3 in overall quality

Columbia College Hollywood did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. Columbia College Hollywood is a private not-for-profit institution located in Tarzana, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 63 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia College Hollywood did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Columbia College Hollywood is $31,851 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Columbia College Hollywood Visual & Performing Arts Report

#1 in overall quality

FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. FIDM Los Angeles is a private for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 346 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at FIDM Los Angeles, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles is $38,804 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at FIDM Los Angeles

#10

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Academy of Art University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in San Francisco, California, this medium-sized private for-profit school handed out 70 diplomas to qualified associates’s visual and performing arts 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 Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $34,125 for california associate degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Academy of Art University.

Full Academy of Art University Visual & Performing Arts Report

#11

Platt College - Ontario

Ontario, California
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Platt College - Ontario did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Ontario, California, this small private for-profit school awarded 15 degrees to qualified associates’s visual and performing arts students in 2019-2020.

Platt College - Ontario not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Platt College - Ontario is $24,002 for california associate degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Platt College - Ontario

#12

Los Angeles Film School

Hollywood, California
#10 in overall quality

Los Angeles Film School did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. Los Angeles Film School is located in Hollywood, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 675 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

LA Film School not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $31,259 for California Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend LA Film School.

Full LA Film School Visual & Performing Arts Report

#13

SAE Expression College

Emeryville, California
#15 in overall quality

SAE Expression College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. SAE Expression College is a small private for-profit school situated in Emeryville, California. It awarded 1 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $30-$48k list, SAE Expression College has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SAE Expression College is $33,374 for california associate degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at SAE Expression College

#14

New York Film Academy

Burbank, California
#14 in overall quality

New York Film Academy came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Burbank, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associates’s visual and performing arts degrees to 31 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $30-$48k list, New York Film Academy has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for New York Film Academy is $43,325 for california associate degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at New York Film Academy

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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.

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