Best Design and Applied Arts institutions in California, ranked by earnings
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 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gnomon North Hollywood Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $80,221 | 22 | 100% | $44,138 | $38,000 |
| 2 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $64,846 | 110 | 92% | $26,873 | $18,262 |
| 3 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,615 | 58 | 93% | — | $20,000 |
| 4 | Interior Designers Institute Newport Beach Private for-profit · Associate degree | $52,768 | 25 | — | — | $23,814 |
| 5 | Art Center College of Design Pasadena Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,053 | 230 | 79% | $48,578 | $31,050 |
| 6 | Chapman University Orange Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,519 | 35 | 82% | $42,965 | $23,000 |
| 7 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,395 | 99 | 69% | — | $17,215 |
| 8 | Newschool of Architecture and Design San Diego Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,132 | 15 | 62% | $47,298 | $39,251 |
| 9 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,736 | 13 | 57% | — | — |
| 10 | San Francisco State University San Francisco Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,845 | 198 | 50% | — | $18,000 |
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 Design and Applied Arts program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Gnomon tops the list at $80,221. Compare it against completions, 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 $91,760 (median $76,440), across about 28,310 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.
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).
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