Best colleges for Visual and Performing Arts in California
Ranked by graduates a year
Santa Monica College, Grossmont College and California State University - San Bernardino award the most Visual and Performing Arts degrees and certificates in California: 18, 16 and 11 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 13 California colleges offer Visual and Performing Arts and award 90 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Visual and Performing Arts program encompasses a broad range of artistic disciplines, providing students with the opportunity to explore various forms of visual and performing arts. This program is designed for individuals passionate…
13 institutions offering Visual and Performing Arts in California
Graduate earnings are not yet reported for these institutions; ordered by graduates a year.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica Public | — | 18 | 36% | — | — |
| 2 | Grossmont College El Cajon Public | — | 16 | 37% | — | — |
| 3 | California State University - San Bernardino San Bernardino Public | — | 11 | 55% | — | — |
| 4 | East Los Angeles College Monterey Park Public | — | 8 | 37% | — | — |
| 5 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | — | 7 | 87% | — | — |
| 6 | El Camino Community College District Torrance Public | — | 7 | 42% | — | — |
| 7 | Fullerton College Fullerton Public | — | 7 | 34% | — | — |
| 8 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public | — | 5 | 75% | — | — |
| 9 | Cabrillo College Aptos Public | — | 3 | 38% | — | — |
| 10 | Chabot College Hayward Public | — | 3 | 47% | — | — |
| 11 | Long Beach City College Long Beach Public | — | 2 | 30% | — | — |
| 12 | San Diego City College San Diego Public | — | 2 | 30% | — | — |
| 13 | California Institute of the Arts Valencia Private not-for-profit | — | 1 | 67% | $42,045 | — |
Colleges awarding the most Visual and Performing Arts degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). 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 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica Public | 18 | Not reported |
| 2 | Grossmont College El Cajon Public | 16 | Not reported |
| 3 | California State University - San Bernardino San Bernardino Public | 11 | Not reported |
| 4 | East Los Angeles College Monterey Park Public | 8 | Not reported |
| 5 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 7 | Not reported |
| 6 | El Camino Community College District Torrance Public | 7 | Not reported |
| 7 | Fullerton College Fullerton Public | 7 | Not reported |
| 8 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public | 5 | Not reported |
| 9 | Cabrillo College Aptos Public | 3 | Not reported |
| 10 | Chabot College Hayward Public | 3 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 3 California colleges offering Visual and Performing Arts
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Beach City College | Long Beach | Public | 2 |
| San Diego City College | San Diego | Public | 2 |
| California Institute of the Arts | Valencia | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary (SOC 25-1121).
Top skills
What Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Visual and Performing Arts programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Visual and Performing Arts degrees?+
Santa Monica College (18 graduates a year), Grossmont College (16 graduates a year) and California State University - San Bernardino (11 graduates a year) award the most Visual and Performing Arts degrees and certificates in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 13 California colleges offer Visual and Performing Arts.
How much do Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary in California is $114,430 (median $99,410), across about 9,820 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Visual and Performing Arts program?+
The Visual and Performing Arts program encompasses a broad range of artistic disciplines, providing students with the opportunity to explore various forms of visual and performing arts. This program is designed for individuals passionate…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, learning strategies, active learning, active listening, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary?+
The national job outlook is about +1.7% growth with around 9,000 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Master'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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