2026 Best Design And Applied Arts Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Design And Applied Arts certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 1237 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor reviewed schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Design And Applied Arts Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
Our analysis found The University Of Texas At Austin to be the best Design And Applied Arts school in the United States. Based in Austin, TX, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $22,500. More on The University Of Texas At Austin
The strong Design And Applied Arts programs at University Of Wisconsin Madison earned it the #2 place in the United States. This public school is set in Madison, WI. About 90% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Students borrow a median of $20,875 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. Read the full report on University Of Wisconsin Madison
Out of the 1237 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of Kentucky landed the #3 spot. Based in Lexington, KY, University Of Kentucky is a public institution. University Of Kentucky posts a six-year graduation rate of 71%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of Kentucky
You'll be in good company at University Of Florida, which ranked #4 this year. This public school is set in Gainesville, FL. University Of Florida posts a six-year graduation rate of 91%. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Graduates carry a median of $19,839 in student loans. Get the full University Of Florida report
Sessions College For Professional Design came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Set in Tempe, AZ, Sessions College For Professional Design is a private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,400. Typical Design And Applied Arts student debt is $25,199. See the full Sessions College For Professional Design profile
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania did well this year, earning the #7 position. Set in Slippery Rock, PA, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a public institution. Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania graduates 66% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,568, with out-of-state students paying around $14,676. Students borrow a median of $26,330 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. See the full Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania profile
Western Washington University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Located in Bellingham, WA, Western Washington University is a public institution. Western Washington University posts a six-year graduation rate of 65%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,582, compared with $28,707 for out-of-state students. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $20,000. Read more about Western Washington University
South Dakota State University came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Based in Brookings, SD, South Dakota State University is a public institution. South Dakota State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. Students from in state pay about $9,299 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. More on South Dakota State University
Minnesota State University Moorhead did well this year, earning the #10 position. Set in Moorhead, MN, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. Students from in state pay about $10,428 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. Read more about Minnesota State University Moorhead
Sinclair Community College placed #11 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Set in Dayton, OH, Sinclair Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,675 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Sinclair Community College Design And Applied Arts students take on a median of $11,000 in debt. See the full Sinclair Community College profile
Rowan University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Rowan University is a public school based in Glassboro, NJ. Rowan University graduates 67% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $16,574, with out-of-state students paying around $26,932. Graduates carry a median of $24,488 in student loans. Read the full report on Rowan University
University Of Arizona came in at #13 in this year's ranking. University Of Arizona is a public school based in Tucson, AZ. University Of Arizona graduates 68% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Typical Design And Applied Arts student debt is $21,861. Get the full University Of Arizona report
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis placed #14 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Located in Indianapolis, IN, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public institution. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,762, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $23,146. See the full Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis profile
Seminole State College Of Florida placed #14 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Located in Sanford, FL, Seminole State College Of Florida is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,122, with out-of-state students paying around $11,447. Seminole State College Of Florida Design And Applied Arts students take on a median of $19,613 in debt. See the full Seminole State College Of Florida profile
La Roche College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. Located in Pittsburgh, PA, La Roche College is a private not-for-profit institution. La Roche College graduates 56% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,052. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $27,078. Read more about La Roche College
Collin County Community College District placed #17 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Located in McKinney, TX, Collin County Community College District is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,014, with out-of-state students paying around $6,064. Students borrow a median of $6,900 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. See the full Collin County Community College District profile
Johnson County Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. Set in Overland Park, KS, Johnson County Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,424, while out-of-state students pay about $5,688. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $13,625. Read more about Johnson County Community College
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a public school based in Indiana, PA. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Students from in state pay about $11,380 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,297 for out-of-state students. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus Design And Applied Arts students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. Read more about Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus
Millikin University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Decatur, IL. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. In-state tuition and fees run about $26,792. Typical Design And Applied Arts student debt is $26,036. Read the full report on Millikin University
Berkeley College Woodland Park did well this year, earning the #21 position. Located in Woodland Park, NJ, Berkeley College Woodland Park is a private for-profit institution. Berkeley College Woodland Park posts a six-year graduation rate of 40%. In-state tuition and fees run about $28,320. Students borrow a median of $23,949 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. Read the full report on Berkeley College Woodland Park
Webster University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. Located in Saint Louis, MO, Webster University is a private not-for-profit institution. Webster University graduates 64% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,750. Graduates carry a median of $25,550 in student loans. More on Webster University
Milwaukee Area Technical College did well this year, earning the #23 position. Based in Milwaukee, WI, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,184, compared with $7,427 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,296 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. More on Milwaukee Area Technical College
University Of North Georgia landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. University Of North Georgia is a public school based in Dahlonega, GA. University Of North Georgia posts a six-year graduation rate of 50%. In-state tuition and fees average $5,444, with out-of-state students paying around $16,956. University Of North Georgia Design And Applied Arts students take on a median of $21,439 in debt. See the full University Of North Georgia profile
Wake Technical Community College landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Raleigh, NC. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,254, with out-of-state students paying around $6,862. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $13,414. Get the full Wake Technical Community College report
Gwinnett Technical College did well this year, earning the #26 position. Set in Lawrenceville, GA, Gwinnett Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,524, while out-of-state students pay about $6,092. Students borrow a median of $18,997 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. See the full Gwinnett Technical College profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best Design And Applied Arts Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania did well this year, earning the #27 position. This public school is set in Shippensburg, PA. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,570, compared with $15,824 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,307 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. Read the full report on Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania
Des Moines Area Community College ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. Located in Ankeny, IA, Des Moines Area Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,790 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $13,625. See the full Des Moines Area Community College profile
Minneapolis Community And Technical College did well this year, earning the #29 position. Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a public school based in Minneapolis, MN. In-state tuition and fees average $6,161. Typical Design And Applied Arts student debt is $18,601. Read the full report on Minneapolis Community And Technical College
Holyoke Community College landed the #30 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Holyoke, MA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,988, compared with $10,932 for out-of-state students. Holyoke Community College Design And Applied Arts students take on a median of $9,763 in debt. Read the full report on Holyoke Community College
Scottsdale Community College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. This public school is set in Scottsdale, AZ. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Typical Design And Applied Arts student debt is $13,084. Get the full Scottsdale Community College report
Austin Community College District placed #32 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Located in Austin, TX, Austin Community College District is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,550, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. Austin Community College District Design And Applied Arts students take on a median of $19,939 in debt. More on Austin Community College District
Fashion Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #33 position. Fashion Institute Of Technology is a public school based in New York, NY. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,174, while out-of-state students pay about $22,696. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $18,500. Read more about Fashion Institute Of Technology
Latter Day Saints Business College placed #34 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Latter Day Saints Business College is a private not-for-profit school based in Salt Lake City, UT. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,004. More on Latter Day Saints Business College
Western Kentucky University landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. Located in Bowling Green, KY, Western Kentucky University is a public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $11,652 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans. Read more about Western Kentucky University
Metropolitan Community College Area placed #36 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Set in Omaha, NE, Metropolitan Community College Area is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,375, compared with $4,950 for out-of-state students. Metropolitan Community College Area Design And Applied Arts students take on a median of $12,526 in debt. Get the full Metropolitan Community College Area report
University Of Massachusetts Lowell placed #37 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. This public school is set in Lowell, MA. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. In-state tuition and fees average $16,966, compared with $36,264 for out-of-state students. Typical Design And Applied Arts student debt is $23,000. See the full University Of Massachusetts Lowell profile
Central Piedmont Community College did well this year, earning the #38 position. Based in Charlotte, NC, Central Piedmont Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,792, while out-of-state students pay about $8,936. Graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans. See the full Central Piedmont Community College profile
El Centro College came in at #39 in this year's ranking. Located in Dallas, TX, El Centro College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. El Centro College Design And Applied Arts students take on a median of $11,835 in debt. More on El Centro College
Salt Lake Community College landed the #40 spot in the United States this year. Located in Salt Lake City, UT, Salt Lake Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,426, compared with $14,244 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,766 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. Read more about Salt Lake Community College
Northampton County Area Community College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. Set in Bethlehem, PA, Northampton County Area Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,550, while out-of-state students pay about $15,270. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $15,250. Get the full Northampton County Area Community College report
Eastern Washington University landed the #42 spot in the United States this year. Eastern Washington University is a public school based in Cheney, WA. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,586, with out-of-state students paying around $26,583. Typical Design And Applied Arts student debt is $21,754. Read the full report on Eastern Washington University
Guilford Technical Community College landed the #43 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Jamestown, NC. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,320, while out-of-state students pay about $7,696. Graduates carry a median of $15,250 in student loans. Read more about Guilford Technical Community College
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design did well this year, earning the #44 position. Set in Boston, MA, Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a public institution. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design posts a six-year graduation rate of 69%. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,400, with out-of-state students paying around $43,400. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. More on Massachusetts College Of Art And Design
Cuny Laguardia Community College came in at #45 in this year's ranking. Located in Long Island City, NY, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,218, with out-of-state students paying around $8,098. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $8,858. More on Cuny Laguardia Community College
Springfield Technical Community College placed #46 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Based in Springfield, MA, Springfield Technical Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,904, compared with $11,112 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $9,707 in student loans. Read the full report on Springfield Technical Community College
Tidewater Community College landed the #47 spot in the United States this year. Tidewater Community College is a public school based in Norfolk, VA. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,858, while out-of-state students pay about $12,296. Typical Design And Applied Arts student debt is $10,195. See the full Tidewater Community College profile
Saint Louis Community College placed #48 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Based in Bridgeton, MO, Saint Louis Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $6,990. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $11,424. Read more about Saint Louis Community College
Columbus State University placed #49 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Set in Columbus, GA, Columbus State University is a public institution. Columbus State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 43%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,898, compared with $17,610 for out-of-state students. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $28,493. Get the full Columbus State University report
Brookdale Community College landed the #50 spot in the United States this year. Set in Lincroft, NJ, Brookdale Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,270, compared with $10,140 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $12,651 in student loans. See the full Brookdale Community College profile
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology placed #51 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Based in Kirkland, WA, Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,997, while out-of-state students pay about $12,062. Lake Washington Institute Of Technology Design And Applied Arts students take on a median of $19,695 in debt. Get the full Lake Washington Institute Of Technology report
Related Design And Applied Arts Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Design And Applied Arts Schools (All Levels)
- Best Design And Applied Arts Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Design And Applied Arts Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Design And Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Design And Applied Arts Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Design And Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Design And Applied Arts Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 1237 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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