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Best Design and Applied Arts Schools in California

California has 27 colleges offering Design and Applied Arts programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 2,074 recent graduates. Graduates in California earn $38,429 on average within two years — 11% above the national average of $34,594, making the state one of the stronger markets for this field.

School choice matters significantly: San Jose State University graduates earn $52,524 while California State University-Chico graduates earn $24,035 — a $28,489 gap. Research each program's curriculum, employer connections, and career services before deciding.

27
Schools in CA
$38,429
CA Avg. Earnings
$34,594
National Avg.
311
Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Design and Applied Arts in California

Public Schools (15)
$37,577
avg. 2yr earnings
Private Schools (9)
$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

#1
S

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA · Public

$52,524
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $46,596
Graduates: 50
Acceptance: 80.2%
#2
U

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public

$52,107
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 25.6%
#3
C

Chapman University

Orange, CA · Private

$52,107
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $44,707
Graduates: 24
Acceptance: 55.6%
#4
A

Art Center College of Design

Pasadena, CA · Private

$50,856
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $40,017
Graduates: 238
Acceptance: 75.0%
#5
C

California Institute of the Arts

Valencia, CA · Private

$49,840
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 25.9%
#6
C

California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public

$43,519
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $40,105
Graduates: 208
Acceptance: 47.1%
#7
U

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$42,682
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $29,631
Graduates: 20
Acceptance: 10.0%
#8
O

Otis College of Art and Design

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$42,123
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $38,497
Graduates: 118
Acceptance: 84.0%
#9
S

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

$41,379
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $37,384
Graduates: 110
Acceptance: 96.2%
#10
C

California State University-Monterey Bay

Seaside, CA · Public

$40,368
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $24,612
Graduates: 44
Acceptance: 94.8%
#11
U

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$40,017
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $39,481
Graduates: 32
Acceptance: 8.7%
#12
C

California College of the Arts

San Francisco, CA · Private

$39,860
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $35,949
Graduates: 147
Acceptance: 73.4%
#13
U

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, CA · Private

$39,009
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $41,193
Graduates: 31
Acceptance: 50.8%
#14
U

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public

$38,289
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $38,040
Graduates: 174
Acceptance: 41.6%
#15
S

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public

$36,668
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $34,442
Graduates: 121
Acceptance: 34.4%
#16
C

California State University-San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA · Public

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $28,653
Graduates: 103
Acceptance: 98.3%
#17
C

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $37,137
Graduates: 50
Acceptance: 93.6%
#18
I

Interior Designers Institute

Newport Beach, CA ·

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $42,627
Graduates: 16
Acceptance: N/A
#19
W

Woodbury University

Burbank, CA · Private

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $43,523
Graduates: 23
Acceptance: 72.9%
#20
A

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, CA ·

$33,809
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $28,222
Graduates: 136
Acceptance: N/A
#21
C

California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA · Public

$33,192
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $24,496
Graduates: 58
Acceptance: 96.4%
#22
C

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Pomona, CA · Public

$32,035
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $34,271
Graduates: 169
Acceptance: 73.7%
#23
C

California State University-Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA · Public

$30,771
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $22,653
Graduates: 31
Acceptance: 91.3%
#24
C

California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public

$30,771
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $29,435
Graduates: 32
Acceptance: 93.2%
#25
L

Laguna College of Art and Design

Laguna Beach, CA · Private

$29,685
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $32,564
Graduates: 86
Acceptance: 77.6%
#26
A

Ashford University

San Diego, CA ·

$25,967
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: N/A
#27
C

California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public

$24,035
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $21,425
Graduates: 53
Acceptance: 93.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Design and Applied Arts in California?
San Jose State University ranks #1 for Design and Applied Arts in California with median graduate earnings of $52,524 within two years of graduation. There are 27 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 11% above the national average of $34,594 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 66.4%.
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 15 public and 9 private options in the state.

Other Popular Majors in California

Construction Management $81,700 Construction Engineering $81,610 Construction Engineering Technologies $76,343 Engineering, General $76,184 Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions $75,984 Manufacturing Engineering $73,841 Engineering-Related Fields $73,096 Computer Science $72,889
All colleges in California →

Design and Applied Arts in Other States

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

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Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.