Best Design and Applied Arts Degrees in California by ROI
Colleges in California ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs in California
27
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$148,323
Across California programs
Average Annual Cost
$41,154
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
San Jose State University
Grad rate: 66.2% |
+$649,280 | $79,603 | $25,695 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
University of California-Irvine
Grad rate: 86.3% |
+$343,936 | $66,421 | $36,121 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Chapman University
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$74,162 | $63,526 | $81,327 | $23,000 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
San Francisco State University
Grad rate: 52.2% |
+$56,808 | $51,107 | $25,258 | $18,000 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
California State University-Long Beach
Grad rate: 71.3% |
+$24,079 | $48,428 | $20,310 | $17,215 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
University of California-Los Angeles
Grad rate: 92.6% |
+$17,628 | $51,560 | $36,643 | $20,000 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Art Center College of Design
Grad rate: 79.2% |
-$18,265 | $57,513 | $71,652 | $31,050 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
University of California-Davis
Grad rate: 85.7% |
-$45,538 | $48,349 | $38,067 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Point Loma Nazarene University
Grad rate: 74.8% |
-$111,256 | $47,770 | $56,664 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
San Diego State University
Grad rate: 78.1% |
-$139,144 | $41,440 | $27,357 | $13,716 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
California State University-San Bernardino
Grad rate: 54.5% |
-$139,367 | $39,503 | $16,910 | $16,139 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
University of San Francisco
Grad rate: 72.8% |
-$150,579 | $51,544 | $76,421 | $26,500 | Full ROI → |
| 13 | Interior Designers Institute | -$159,544 | $35,957 | N/A | $28,655 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
California College of the Arts
Grad rate: 65.7% |
-$195,366 | $49,787 | $78,664 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
California State University-Monterey Bay
Grad rate: 62.4% |
-$200,064 | $38,201 | $26,017 | $14,827 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)
A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Design and Applied Arts Degrees by State
Browse Design and Applied Arts programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.