Design Schools in California
4 California schools offer Design. Average graduate earnings run 60% above the national average — something worth factoring in alongside tuition, location, and program fit.
Design Training in California: What You Need to Know
Local program supply
California has 4 schools offering Design programs, concentrated in 3 cities including {'city': 'Hollywood', 'city_slug': 'hollywood', 'count': 1, 'avg_earn': 80221.0}, {'city': 'San Francisco', 'city_slug': 'san-francisco', 'count': 1, 'avg_earn': 26478.0}, {'city': 'Los Angeles', 'city_slug': 'los-angeles', 'count': 1, 'avg_earn': 24393.0}. Most students attend within 60 miles of home — local choice matters more than national rankings.
Earnings vs. national
Design graduates in California earn approximately $45,965/year on average, which is +60% above the national average for this trade. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
California-specific licensing
Most skilled trades require a state-issued license or certification before you can work independently. Requirements vary substantially by state. Verify California-specific licensing through the relevant state board (Department of Labor, Contractors Board, or trade-specific licensing body). Apprenticeship hours often count toward licensure.
How California compares
Average TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Design programs in California is 46/100. Cost of living, wage levels, and program supply all vary by state — see the school list below ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score, which combines earnings, debt, and job-market demand.
Design Programs in California
All 4 California schools offering Design, ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click a school to see full earnings projections and program details.
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gnomon Hollywood, CA |
60 |
| 2 | Interior Designers Institute Newport Beach, CA |
52 |
| 3 | Academy of Art University San Francisco, CA |
37 |
| 4 | FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Los Angeles, CA |
35 |
Where Design Programs Cluster in California
Cities with the most Design programs — useful if you want to minimize commute or relocate within state.
| City | Schools | Avg Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Hollywood, CA | 1 | $80,221/yr |
| San Francisco, CA | 1 | $26,478/yr |
| Los Angeles, CA | 1 | $24,393/yr |
Compare Design in Other States
Considering a nearby state? Here's how California compares to others with strong Design offerings.