Best Visual and Performing Arts Programs in California
Updated
Part of Top Art & Design Colleges in California by Earnings
This page ranks the 7 Visual and Performing Arts programs in California by the median earnings of Visual and Performing Arts graduates four years after completing. California State University-San Marcos leads the list at $48,043, followed by Otis College of Art and Design at $47,220.
The median across the listed schools is $36,674, with figures ranging from $48,043 to $22,455.
The list includes 3 public and 4 private nonprofit institutions. University of California-San Diego ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
California State University-Channel Islands posts the lowest average net price on the page at $9,849.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State University-San Marcos · San Marcos, CA | $48,043 | $10,229 | $6,230 | 95.1% |
| California State University-San Marcos reports median earnings of $48,043 for its Visual and Performing Arts graduates four years after completing, with 76 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 2 | Otis College of Art and Design · Los Angeles, CA | $47,220 | $51,248 | $44,731 | 81.8% |
| A private nonprofit institution in Los Angeles, Otis College of Art and Design admits 82% of applicants and its Visual and Performing Arts graduates earn a median of $47,220 four years after completing. | |||||
| 3 | University of California-San Diego · La Jolla, CA | $45,915 | $12,470 | $7,525 | 26.7% |
| University of California-San Diego ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Visual and Performing Arts graduates earn a median of $45,915 four years after completing. | |||||
| 4 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $36,674 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
| With an admission rate of 10%, University of Southern California posts an average net price of $32,740 and median earnings of $36,674 for its Visual and Performing Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 5 | University of San Francisco · San Francisco, CA | $27,823 | $41,431 | $31,537 | 61.7% |
| University of San Francisco reports an average net price of $31,537 for families earning under $30,000, and its Visual and Performing Arts graduates earn a median of $27,823 four years after completing. | |||||
| 6 | California State University-Channel Islands · Camarillo, CA | $25,194 | $9,849 | $6,857 | 94.8% |
| California State University-Channel Islands carries the lowest average net price on the page at $9,849, and its Visual and Performing Arts graduates earn a median of $25,194 four years after completing. | |||||
| 7 | Azusa Pacific University · Azusa, CA | $22,455 | $22,212 | $15,781 | 88.4% |
| Azusa Pacific University ranks 7th on this list, with median earnings of $22,455 for its Visual and Performing Arts graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 88%. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Visual and Performing Arts graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in California appear. The figures cover federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled. For 4 of the 7 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The spread from California State University-San Marcos to the lowest-ranked program is $25,588.
Related rankings
- Best Colleges in California
- Top Art & Design Colleges in California by Earnings
- Art & Design Colleges in California for Social Mobility