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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Fine Arts Schools in the Far Western Region

31 Colleges in the United States
1,615 Fine Arts Degrees Awarded
$37,998 Avg Early-Career Salary

Fine Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 70 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for fine arts students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Fine Arts in the Far Western Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the fine arts degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Fine Arts

1
Stanford University crest
Stanford University
Stanford, CA

No school ranked higher than Stanford University this year for fine arts. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. Stanford University awarded about 12 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492. Read more about the fine arts program at Stanford University

2

University Of California Santa Barbara is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in fine arts, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 72 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $45,488. Students borrow a median of $16,978 to complete this degree. Get the full fine arts details for University Of California Santa Barbara

3

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in fine arts, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates 86% of students within six years. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 61 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $36,006 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,198 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in fine arts from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

4

University Of Southern California is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in fine arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Southern California awarded about 20 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from University Of Southern California earn around $50,161 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $21,125 in student loans. More information about a degree in fine arts from University Of Southern California

5

San Jose State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in fine arts, ranking #5. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 165 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year. Get the full fine arts details for San Jose State University

6

University Of California Davis earned the #6 position for fine arts this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 48 fine arts degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $32,741. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $15,061 in student loans. See the full fine arts program report for University Of California Davis

7

Loyola Marymount University came in at #7 for fine arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 44 fine arts degrees were awarded at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from Loyola Marymount University earn around $27,210 in the first couple years of their career. Loyola Marymount University graduates carry a median of $23,600 in student loans. See the full fine arts program report for Loyola Marymount University

8

California State University Fullerton earned the #8 position for fine arts this year. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 293 fine arts degrees were awarded at California State University Fullerton in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $41,350. Typical student debt for the program is $16,448. Read more about the fine arts program at California State University Fullerton

9

University Of California Berkeley landed the #9 spot for fine arts this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 76 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $20,368. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $13,254 in student loans. Read more about the fine arts program at University Of California Berkeley

10

California State University East Bay placed #10 among the best fine arts schools. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. California State University East Bay graduates 48% of students within six years. About 121 fine arts degrees were awarded at California State University East Bay in the most recent year. Fine Arts graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of $33,220 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,625. See the full fine arts program report for California State University East Bay

11

University Of California San Diego landed the #11 spot for fine arts this year. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 43 fine arts degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $21,777 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,218. Read more about the fine arts program at University Of California San Diego

12

California State University Long Beach earned the #12 position for fine arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Long Beach. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. California State University Long Beach awarded about 207 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $21,493 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,583. See the full fine arts program report for California State University Long Beach

13

California State University Sacramento ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best fine arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. About 56% of students finish within six years. California State University Sacramento awarded about 23 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $20,203 in their early career. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $15,879 in student loans. Get the full fine arts details for California State University Sacramento

14

California State University Chico landed the #14 spot for fine arts this year. California State University Chico is a large public school located in the city of Chico. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University Chico in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $22,628 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,990. See the full fine arts program report for California State University Chico

15

San Francisco State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best fine arts schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 29 fine arts degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Fine Arts graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $24,606 early in their careers. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $18,511 in student loans. Read more about the fine arts program at San Francisco State University

16

Art Center College Of Design came in at #16 for fine arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pasadena. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 30 fine arts degrees were awarded at Art Center College Of Design in the most recent year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $52,659 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $37,803 to complete this degree. See the full fine arts program report for Art Center College Of Design

17

University Of Redlands placed #17 among the best fine arts schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Redlands. About 67% of students finish within six years. University Of Redlands awarded about 11 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from University Of Redlands generally make around $57,218. University Of Redlands graduates carry a median of $27,175 in student loans. Read more about the fine arts program at University Of Redlands

18
Mills College crest
Mills College
Oakland, CA

Mills College came in at #18 for fine arts this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Oakland. About 11 fine arts degrees were awarded at Mills College in the most recent year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from Mills College earn around $74,350 in the first couple years of their career. Mills College graduates carry a median of $24,086 in student loans. Read more about the fine arts program at Mills College

19

University Of Oregon ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best fine arts schools. University Of Oregon is a very large public school located in the city of Eugene. University Of Oregon graduates 72% of students within six years. About 19 fine arts degrees were awarded at University Of Oregon in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from University Of Oregon generally make around $26,404. Typical student debt for the program is $24,000. More information about a degree in fine arts from University Of Oregon

20

Saint Marys College Of California landed the #20 spot for fine arts this year. Located in the suburb of Moraga, Saint Marys College Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at Saint Marys College Of California in the most recent data year. Fine Arts graduates of Saint Marys College Of California earn a median of $59,760 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,041 to complete this degree. See the full fine arts program report for Saint Marys College Of California

21

Central Washington University landed the #21 spot for fine arts this year. Located in the town of Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a very large public university. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 36 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at Central Washington University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $26,123 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. See the full fine arts program report for Central Washington University

22

Washington State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best fine arts schools. Set in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a very large public institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 18 fine arts degrees were awarded at Washington State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $54,697 in their early career. Washington State University graduates carry a median of $21,903 in student loans. Read more about the fine arts program at Washington State University

23

Claremont Graduate University came in at #23 for fine arts this year. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Claremont Graduate University is a small private not-for-profit university. Claremont Graduate University awarded about 13 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $68,239 in their early career. Read more about the fine arts program at Claremont Graduate University

24

California State University San Bernardino ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best fine arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Bernardino. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 10 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $14,447 in their early career. California State University San Bernardino graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Read more about the fine arts program at California State University San Bernardino

25
Chabot College crest
Chabot College
Hayward, CA

Chabot College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best fine arts schools. Set in the suburb of Hayward, Chabot College is a large public institution. About 10 fine arts degrees were awarded at Chabot College in the most recent year. Fine Arts graduates of Chabot College earn a median of $85,175 early in their careers. Chabot College graduates carry a median of $14,122 in student loans. More information about a degree in fine arts from Chabot College

Rest of the Top 33 Fine Arts Schools

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s fine arts ranking:

26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 70 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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