How important is the NASAD Accreditation when selecting a college design program

JBStillFlying
Thu, 27 Jul 2017 14:26:56 +0000

The CSU’s would charge you OOS tuition but that is less than many private schools. COA when my daughter applied a couple of years ago was around $37,000/yr but very hard to get out in less than 5-6 years (so that has to be factored in when computing cost). No chance of merit aid due to OOS status and we didn’t qualify for federal need-based.

The advantage with the CSU’s is that those kids are not subject to the very high rate of impaction going on. I think now every school is impacted and at places like Fullerton or SJSU the major is impacted as well so the standards for admission are higher. SJSU will list the qualifying index by major so you can look that up. You should start reading up on the CSU application process because you only have to complete one application then send it off to whichever schools you choose (you need to pay a fee per school). No essay, no portfolio required as admission to an art/design major is determined during sophomore year after meeting pre-reqs and passing a portfolio review. The admission index is determined by a formula using GPA and test scores. CSU Mentor is the website used to apply.

My D16 is at SCAD currently for animation but she applied to four CSU’s as backup and got into all of them (even SJSU which probably had the highest index for her major of any of the CSU’s). Her out of state status definitely helped! (more $$$'s for a cash-short state school system). She applied when applications opened Oct. 1st so was one of the first notified for each school. Her major specifically favored a CA school with connections to the film industry. Graphic design might be less “location-specific”. Anyway, if looking at the West Coast it makes sense to consider them because they have decent-to-excellent art and design programs.