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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts in California

227 Ranked Colleges
$46,400 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

With 150,273 degrees handed out in 2021-2022, visual & performing arts is the 10th most popular major in the United States. In , visual & performing arts graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $26,820 and had an average of $26,756 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 24,521 visual & performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,368 and $31,024 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California” ranking, we looked at 227 colleges that offer a degree in visual & performing arts. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in visual & performing arts.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for california visual & performing arts students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts in California

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TOA crest
Theatre of Arts
Hollywood, California

Out of the 227 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Theatre of Arts landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Hollywood, California, this small private for-profit school handed out 4 diplomas to qualified ’s visual & performing arts students in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Theatre of Arts

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California list. Located in Blue Lake, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified ’s visual & performing arts students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre Visual & Performing Arts Report

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Out of the 227 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Hussian College-Relativity Campus California landed the #1 spot on the list. Hussian College-Relativity Campus California is a small school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 51 ’s visual & performing arts degrees in 2021-2022.

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%.

Full Hussian College-Relativity Campus California Visual & Performing Arts Report

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California Jazz Conservatory crest
California Jazz Conservatory
Berkeley, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California Jazz Conservatory. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California list. Berkeley, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s visual & performing arts degrees to 5 students in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at California Jazz Conservatory

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Design Institute of San Diego crest
Design Institute of San Diego
San Diego, California

Out of the 227 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Design Institute of San Diego landed the #1 spot on the list. Design Institute of San Diego is a private for-profit institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 30 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

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 more about Visual & Performing Arts at Design Institute of San Diego

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LACM crest
Los Angeles College of Music
Pasadena, California

Los Angeles College of Music came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California ranking. Located in Pasadena, California, this small private for-profit school awarded 42 degrees to qualified ’s visual & performing arts students in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full LACM Visual & Performing Arts Report

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LA Film School crest
Los Angeles Film School
Hollywood, California

Los Angeles Film School landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California ranking. LA Film School is a medium-sized school located in Hollywood, California that handed out 1,050 ’s visual & performing arts degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Los Angeles Film School Visual & Performing Arts Report

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Platt College - San Diego crest
Platt College - San Diego
San Diego, California

Platt College - San Diego ranked #10 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California list. Platt College - San Diego is located in San Diego, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 68 ’s visual & performing arts degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

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With a ranking of #11, American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 106 diplomas to qualified ’s visual & performing arts students in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Los Angeles

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Otis College of Art and Design crest
Otis College of Art and Design
Los Angeles, California

With a ranking of #12, Otis College of Art and Design did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California list. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 261 ’s visual & performing arts degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Otis College of Art and Design

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Interior Designers Institute crest
Interior Designers Institute
Newport Beach, California

Interior Designers Institute did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California ranking, coming in at #13. Newport Beach, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s visual & performing arts degrees to 47 students in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Interior Designers Institute Visual & Performing Arts Report

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American Film Institute Conservatory landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California ranking. American Film Institute Conservatory is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 82 ’s visual & performing arts degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. 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%.

Full American Film Institute Conservatory Visual & Performing Arts Report

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Young Americans College of the Performing Arts came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California ranking. This small school is located in Corona, California, and it awarded 6 ’s visual & performing arts degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Young Americans College of the Performing Arts

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LCAD crest
Laguna College of Art and Design
Laguna Beach, California

Laguna College of Art and Design did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California ranking, coming in at #16. LCAD is located in Laguna Beach, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 103 ’s visual & performing arts degrees to qualified students.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. 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%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at LCAD

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SFCM crest
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
San Francisco, California

San Francisco Conservatory of Music did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California ranking, coming in at #17. San Francisco Conservatory of Music is a small private not-for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 134 ’s visual & performing arts degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at SFCM

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California Institute of the Arts ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California list. California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 236 ’s visual & performing arts degrees to qualified students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at California Institute of the Arts

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Columbia College Hollywood crest
Columbia College Hollywood
Tarzana, California

Columbia College Hollywood landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California ranking. Columbia College Hollywood is a small school located in Tarzana, California that handed out 158 ’s visual & performing arts degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Columbia College Hollywood

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New York Film Academy crest
New York Film Academy
Burbank, California

New York Film Academy came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California ranking. New York Film Academy is located in Burbank, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 562 ’s visual & performing arts degrees to qualified students.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% 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 more about Visual & Performing Arts at New York Film Academy

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Art Center College of Design crest
Art Center College of Design
Pasadena, California

Art Center College of Design landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California ranking. Located in Pasadena, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 358 degrees to qualified ’s visual & performing arts students in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, 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 85%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Art Center College of Design

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California College of the Arts crest
California College of the Arts
San Francisco, California

California College of the Arts ranked #22 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California list. California College of the Arts is a small school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 264 ’s visual & performing arts degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at California College of the Arts

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Gnomon crest
Gnomon
Hollywood, California

Gnomon came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California ranking. Gnomon is located in Hollywood, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 60 ’s visual & performing arts degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Gnomon

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Musicians Institute crest
Musicians Institute
Hollywood, California

Musicians Institute landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California ranking. Musicians Institute is a small school located in Hollywood, California that handed out 180 ’s visual & performing arts degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Musicians Institute

Rest of the Best 35 in Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in California

Not only did these schools make the top 35 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

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Academy of Art University crest
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, CA
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Cogswell crest
Cogswell College
San Jose, CA
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Mills crest
Mills College
Oakland, CA
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Oxy crest
Occidental College
Los Angeles, CA

Notes and References

References

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Footnotes

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