Best colleges for Design and Applied Arts in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Southern California, University of California-Los Angeles and Art Center College of Design are the top bachelor's Design and Applied Arts programs in California by graduate earnings. University of Southern California leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $64,846, College Scorecard. University of California-Davis, Santa Monica College and San Jose State University award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in California: 277, 235 and 233 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 119 California colleges offer Design and Applied Arts and award 4,771 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Design and Applied Arts program focuses on the intersection of design and practical application, teaching students how to create aesthetically pleasing objects for everyday use. This program is ideal for individuals interested in…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $64,846 | 85 | 92% | $26,873 | $18,262 |
| 2 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,615 | 62 | 93% | — | $20,000 |
| 3 | Art Center College of Design Pasadena Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,053 | 230 | 79% | $48,578 | $31,050 |
| 4 | Chapman University Orange Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,519 | 33 | 82% | $42,965 | $23,000 |
| 5 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,395 | 120 | 69% | — | $17,215 |
| 6 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,736 | 34 | 57% | — | — |
| 7 | San Francisco State University San Francisco Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,845 | 183 | 50% | — | $18,000 |
| 8 | Design Institute of San Diego San Diego Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,589 | 24 | 80% | $31,880 | $45,687 |
| 9 | University of California-Davis Davis Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,816 | 277 | 86% | — | $15,000 |
| 10 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,240 | 78 | 56% | — | $15,750 |
Top 2 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gnomon North Hollywood Private for-profit · Certificate | $80,221 | 23 | 100% | $44,138 | $38,000 |
| 2 | Interior Designers Institute Newport Beach Private for-profit · Associate degree | $52,768 | 45 | — | — | $23,814 |
Colleges awarding the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 277 | $32,816 |
| 2 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica Public | 235 | Not reported |
| 3 | San Jose State University San Jose Public | 233 | Not reported |
| 4 | Art Center College of Design Pasadena Private not-for-profit | 230 | $47,053 |
| 5 | San Francisco State University San Francisco Public | 183 | $34,845 |
| 6 | Academy of Art University San Francisco Private for-profit | 129 | $20,829 |
| 7 | Otis College of Art and Design Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 125 | $31,172 |
| 8 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public | 120 | $37,395 |
| 9 | Laguna College of Art and Design Laguna Beach Private not-for-profit | 104 | $27,785 |
| 10 | Sierra College Rocklin Public | 104 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 109 California colleges offering Design and Applied Arts
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024).
Top skills
What Graphic Designers earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Design and Applied Arts programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees?+
University of California-Davis (277 graduates a year), Santa Monica College (235 graduates a year) and San Jose State University (233 graduates a year) award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 119 California colleges offer Design and Applied Arts.
What is the best college for Design and Applied Arts in California?+
By graduate earnings, University of Southern California leads among bachelor's Design and Applied Arts programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $64,846, College Scorecard. University of California-Los Angeles and Art Center College of Design follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-Davis is the largest, with 277 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Design and Applied Arts program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Southern California tops the list at $64,846. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Graphic Designers earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Graphic Designers in California is $86,800 (median $75,130), across about 27,390 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Design and Applied Arts program?+
The Design and Applied Arts program focuses on the intersection of design and practical application, teaching students how to create aesthetically pleasing objects for everyday use. This program is ideal for individuals interested in…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, speaking, critical thinking, writing, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Graphic Designers?+
The national job outlook is about +2.1% growth with around 20,000 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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