2026 Best Fine Arts Schools in California

1

Stanford University
Stanford, CA

Stanford University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in fine arts. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 12 fine arts degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $100,827 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492. See the full fine arts program report for Stanford University

2

University Of California Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA

Students looking for a strong fine arts program will find one at University Of California Santa Barbara, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 72 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $45,488 in their early career. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $16,978 in student loans. More information about a degree in fine arts from University Of California Santa Barbara

3

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA

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. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 61 fine arts degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn around $36,006 in the first couple years of their career. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $19,198 in student loans. See the full fine arts program report for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

4

University Of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA

University Of Southern California is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in fine arts, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Fine Arts graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $50,161 early in their careers. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $21,125 in student loans. See the full fine arts program report for University Of Southern California

5

San Jose State University
San Jose, CA

A rank of #5 makes San Jose State University one of the top schools for fine arts. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Jose State University awarded about 165 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Read more about the fine arts program at San Jose State University

6

University Of California Davis
Davis, CA

University Of California Davis landed the #6 spot for fine arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Davis. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 48 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Fine Arts graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $32,741 early in their careers. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $15,061 in student loans. Read more about the fine arts program at University Of California Davis

7

Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA

Loyola Marymount University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best fine arts schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 79% of students finish within six years. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $23,600. Read more about the fine arts program at Loyola Marymount University

8

California State University Fullerton
Fullerton, CA

California State University Fullerton ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best fine arts schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fullerton. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 293 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $41,350. Students borrow a median of $16,448 to complete this degree. Get the full fine arts details for California State University Fullerton

9

University Of California Berkeley
Berkeley, CA

University Of California Berkeley landed the #9 spot for fine arts this year. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 76 fine arts degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $20,368. Students borrow a median of $13,254 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in fine arts from University Of California Berkeley

10

California State University East Bay
Hayward, CA

California State University East Bay placed #10 among the best fine arts schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Hayward. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 121 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University East Bay in the most recent data 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
La Jolla, CA

University Of California San Diego came in at #11 for fine arts this year. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. 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. Fine Arts graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $21,777 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,218. See the full fine arts program report for University Of California San Diego

12

California State University Long Beach
Long Beach, CA

California State University Long Beach came in at #12 for fine arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Long Beach. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 207 fine arts degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Fine Arts graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $21,493 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,583. Get the full fine arts details for California State University Long Beach

13

California State University Sacramento
Sacramento, CA

California State University Sacramento placed #13 among the best fine arts schools. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 23 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Fine Arts graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $20,203 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,879 to complete this degree. Get the full fine arts details for California State University Sacramento

14

California State University Chico
Chico, CA

California State University Chico placed #14 among the best fine arts schools. Located in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public university. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Chico awarded about 14 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Fine Arts graduates of California State University Chico earn a median of $22,628 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,990 to complete this degree. Read more about the fine arts program at California State University Chico

15

San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA

San Francisco State University came in at #15 for fine arts this year. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 fine arts degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $24,606 in their early career. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $18,511 in student loans. Get the full fine arts details for San Francisco State University

16

Art Center College Of Design
Pasadena, CA

Art Center College Of Design earned the #16 position for fine arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pasadena. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 30 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at Art Center College Of Design in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from Art Center College Of Design earn around $52,659 in the first couple years of their career. Art Center College Of Design graduates carry a median of $37,803 in student loans. Get the full fine arts details for Art Center College Of Design

17

University Of Redlands
Redlands, CA

University Of Redlands placed #17 among the best fine arts schools. Set in the city of Redlands, University Of Redlands is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Redlands awarded about 11 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Fine Arts graduates of University Of Redlands earn a median of $57,218 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,175. See the full fine arts program report for University Of Redlands

18

Mills College
Oakland, CA

Mills College earned the #18 position for fine arts this year. Located in the city of Oakland, Mills College is a small private not-for-profit university. Mills College awarded about 11 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Mills College generally make around $74,350. Students borrow a median of $24,086 to complete this degree. Read more about the fine arts program at Mills College

19

Saint Marys College Of California
Moraga, CA

Saint Marys College Of California ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best fine arts schools. Saint Marys College Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Moraga. Saint Marys College Of California graduates 70% of students 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. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $59,760 in their early career. Saint Marys College Of California graduates carry a median of $25,041 in student loans. Get the full fine arts details for Saint Marys College Of California

20

Claremont Graduate University
Claremont, CA

Claremont Graduate University landed the #20 spot for fine arts this year. Claremont Graduate University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. There were roughly 13 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at Claremont Graduate University 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

21

California State University San Bernardino
San Bernardino, CA

California State University San Bernardino placed #21 among the best fine arts schools. Set in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from California State University San Bernardino earn around $14,447 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,750. See the full fine arts program report for California State University San Bernardino

22

Chabot College
Hayward, CA

Chabot College came in at #22 for fine arts this year. Chabot College is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. There were roughly 10 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at Chabot College in the most recent data year. Fine Arts graduates of Chabot College earn a median of $85,175 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,122. Read more about the fine arts program at Chabot College

23

California College Of The Arts
San Francisco, CA

California College Of The Arts ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best fine arts schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, California College Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at California College Of The Arts in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from California College Of The Arts generally make around $21,093. California College Of The Arts graduates carry a median of $29,250 in student loans. Read more about the fine arts program at California College Of The Arts

24

California Institute Of The Arts
Valencia, CA

California Institute Of The Arts landed the #24 spot for fine arts this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Valencia. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 40 fine arts degrees were awarded at California Institute Of The Arts in the most recent year. Fine Arts graduates of California Institute Of The Arts earn a median of $22,475 early in their careers. California Institute Of The Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. See the full fine arts program report for California Institute Of The Arts

25

Otis College Of Art And Design
Los Angeles, CA

Otis College Of Art And Design placed #25 among the best fine arts schools. Otis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. About 66% of students finish within six years. Otis College Of Art And Design awarded about 33 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from Otis College Of Art And Design earn around $11,590 in the first couple years of their career. Otis College Of Art And Design graduates carry a median of $30,875 in student loans. More information about a degree in fine arts from Otis College Of Art And Design