California has the highest population of media professionals in the world. The Bureau of Labor Statistics combines arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations. The number of professionals working in these fields is a hefty 290,160. Even more impressive is, around 11,350 work in media and communications. Just a few popular industries for digital media professionals include advertising and public relations, film and video, web design, photography, publishing, and museums and similar institutions. Digital media artists also teach and they work in consulting, for non-profit organizations, and for government departments, museums and more.
Museum of Art (LACMA), the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), DreamWorks Animation, Sony Pictures Animation, Saatchi & Saatchi, J. Walter Thompson, and Foote, Cone & Belding (FCB). In addition to plenty of job opportunities, California’s aspiring digital media artists have access to dozes of top-tier colleges, universities, and art schools that offer excellent art, design, and media programs. Just a few include the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Otis College of Art and Design, and the renowned University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Continue reading to learn more about California’s most popular options for aspiring digital media artists.
California Digital Media Schools
According to the most recent report by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the state of California is now home to 454 Title IV colleges and universities, along with dozens of independent art and design schools. Many independent schools are accredited, but they may not have Title IV status (yet), so inquire within. Title IV status means, the school is eligible for federal financial aid programs. Scroll through the list below to review California’s top digital media schools and what they have to offer.
Irvine
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising - Degrees Offered: AA Digital Media
University of California, Irvine - Degrees Offered: BA Studio Arts with an Emphasis in Digital Media, MFA Fine Arts with an Emphasis in Digital Media or New Genres
Los Angeles
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising - Degrees Offered: AA in Digital Media
Otis College of Art and Design - Degrees Offered: BFA Digital Media
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) - Degrees Offered: BA Film, Television and Digital Media, Minor Film and Digital Media, PhD Cinema and Media Studies
San Diego
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising - Degrees Offered: AA Digital Media
University of California San Diego - Degrees Offered: BA Visual Arts (Media), Digital Media Certificate
San Francisco
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising - Degrees Offered: AA Digital Media
San Jose
San Jose State University - Degrees Offered: BFA Art: Digital Media Art Concentration, MFA Art: Digital Media Art Concentration
Santa Cruz
University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) - Degrees Offered: BA Film and Digital Media, Art: Electronic/Digital Media, MFA Digital Arts and New Media, PhD Film and Digital Media
More California schools with Digital media related programs:
Employment and Salary Trends for California Digital Media Artists
In 2002, California was home to more than 226,000 professionals working in artists, media, design, etc. This means the population has increased by more than 60,000. The number of media professionals has increased as well. In 2006, the state was home to just 2,990 media professionals. As mentioned, California is now home to 11,350 media and communications professionals. Salaries are on the rise too. Media and communications professionals averaged $47,540 in 2006. Today, they average $51,570 per year. The average salary for California artists, designers, and media professionals overall is $70,440 annually, up from $51,380 in 2002.
Overall, industries with the highest employment levels are film and video; colleges, universities, and professional schools; radio and television broadcasting; advertising, public relations and related services; and promoters or performing arts, sports and similar events. Although they are not the most popular options for aspiring digital media artists, the following industries pay the most:
While job opportunities can be found across the state, some areas are more popular than others. The metropolitan areas with the highest employment level for digital media professionals are Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale and San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City.
Awesome Animation Fact: In 1959, Disney adapted a Xerox process to its animation, which allowed the transfer of pencil drawing directly to cels. That same year Disney’s Sleeping Beauty was nominated for an Oscar.
