Best Design and Applied Arts Schools in California

California has 34 colleges offering Design and Applied Arts programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 2,203 recent graduates. Graduates in California earn $38,429 on average within two years — 10% above the national average of $34,895, making the state one of the stronger markets for this field.

School choice matters significantly: University of Southern California graduates earn $42,682 while Ashford University graduates earn $25,967 — a $16,715 gap. Research each program's curriculum, employer connections, and career services before deciding.

Schools in CA

$38,429

CA Avg. Earnings

$34,895

National Avg.

371

Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Design and Applied Arts in California

Public Schools (16)

$37,577

avg. 2yr earnings

Private Schools (12)

$42,239

avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $4,662 more in early earnings on average, but typically cost more. Compare net price to determine which offers better ROI.

Design and Applied Arts Schools in California, Ranked by Earnings

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$42,682

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $29,631

Graduates: 20

Acceptance: 10.0%

Chapman University

Orange, CA · Private

$52,107

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $44,707

Graduates: 24

Acceptance: 55.6%

Art Center College of Design

Pasadena, CA · Private

$50,856

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $40,017

Graduates: 238

Acceptance: 75.0%

University of Redlands

Redlands, CA · Private

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $33,510

Graduates: 16

Acceptance: 80.9%

Laguna College of Art and Design

Laguna Beach, CA · Private

$29,685

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $32,564

Graduates: 86

Acceptance: 77.6%

Interior Designers Institute

Newport Beach, CA ·

$33,993

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $42,627

Graduates: 16

Acceptance: N/A

California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public

$43,519

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $40,105

Graduates: 208

Acceptance: 47.1%

University of California-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA · Public

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $31,645

Graduates: 18

Acceptance: 62.5%

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$40,017

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $39,481

Graduates: 32

Acceptance: 8.7%

#10

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public

$38,289

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $38,040

Graduates: 174

Acceptance: 41.6%

#11

Woodbury University

Burbank, CA · Private

$33,993

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $43,523

Graduates: 23

Acceptance: 72.9%

#12

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

$41,379

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $37,384

Graduates: 110

Acceptance: 96.2%

#13

California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public

$30,771

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $29,435

Graduates: 32

Acceptance: 93.2%

#14

California College of the Arts

San Francisco, CA · Private

$39,860

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $35,949

Graduates: 147

Acceptance: 73.4%

#15

Point Loma Nazarene University

San Diego, CA · Private

Otis College of Art and Design

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$42,123

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $38,497

Graduates: 118

Acceptance: 84.0%

#17

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Pomona, CA · Public

$32,035

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $34,271

Graduates: 169

Acceptance: 73.7%

#18

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public

$36,668

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $34,442

Graduates: 121

Acceptance: 34.4%

#19

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public

$33,993

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $37,137

Graduates: 50

Acceptance: 93.6%

#20

FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising

Los Angeles, CA · For-Profit

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $30,424

Graduates: 76

Acceptance: 41.5%

#21

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA · Public

$52,524

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $46,596

Graduates: 50

Acceptance: 80.2%

#22

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public

California Institute of the Arts

Valencia, CA · Private

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, CA · Private

$39,009

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $41,193

Graduates: 31

Acceptance: 50.8%

#25

California State University-Monterey Bay

Seaside, CA · Public

$40,368

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $24,612

Graduates: 44

Acceptance: 94.8%

#26

California State University-Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA · Public

$30,771

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $22,653

Graduates: 31

Acceptance: 91.3%

#27

California Baptist University

Riverside, CA · Private

California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public

$24,035

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $21,425

Graduates: 53

Acceptance: 93.7%

#29

California State University-San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA · Public

$33,993

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $28,653

Graduates: 103

Acceptance: 98.3%

#30

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, CA ·

$33,809

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $28,222

Graduates: 136

Acceptance: N/A

#31

California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA · Public

$33,192

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $24,496

Graduates: 58

Acceptance: 96.4%

#32

Los Angeles Film School

Hollywood, CA ·

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $21,584

Graduates: 19

Acceptance: N/A

#33

University of Silicon Valley

San Jose, CA · For-Profit

N/A

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 51.3%

#34

Ashford University

San Diego, CA ·

$25,967

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: N/A

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Design and Applied Arts in California?

University of Southern California ranks #1 for Design and Applied Arts in California with median graduate earnings of $42,682 within two years of graduation. There are 34 schools offering Design and Applied Arts programs in the state.

How much do Design and Applied Arts graduates earn in California?

Design and Applied Arts graduates in California earn an average of $38,429 within two years of graduation. This is 10% above the national average of $34,895 for this major.

What is the hardest Design and Applied Arts school to get into in California?

University of California-Los Angeles is the most selective Design and Applied Arts program in California with an acceptance rate of 8.7%. The average acceptance rate across Design and Applied Arts programs in the state is 66.2%.

Should I attend a public or private school for Design and Applied Arts in California?

In California, private Design and Applied Arts programs produce average earnings of $42,239 vs $37,577 at public schools. However, public schools typically cost less — consider net price relative to earnings when calculating ROI. There are 16 public and 12 private options in the state.

Other Popular Majors in California

Construction Management $81,700 Construction Engineering $81,610 Construction Engineering Technologies $76,343 Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions $75,984 Computer Science $72,889 Computer Engineering $72,447 Dental Support Services and Allied Professions $71,074 Computer and Information Sciences, General $68,388

All colleges in California →

Design and Applied Arts in Other States

New York Ohio Pennsylvania Texas Massachusetts Illinois Wisconsin Missouri Michigan Minnesota North Carolina Washington View All →

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Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release.