2026 Best Design And Applied Arts Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Design And Applied Arts doctoral degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 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 analyzed schools to produce 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 Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Illinois Institute Of Technology earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Chicago, IL. Illinois Institute Of Technology graduates 75% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,202. Students borrow a median of $26,774 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. Get the full Illinois Institute Of Technology report
A rank of #2 makes Auburn University one of the top choices in the United States. Set in Auburn, AL, Auburn University is a public institution. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $12,890, compared with $34,922 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. Read the full report on Auburn University
The strong Design And Applied Arts programs at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned it the #3 place in the United States. Located in Minneapolis, MN, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $17,214 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Read more about University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Out of the 1237 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Baltimore City Community College landed the #4 spot. More on Baltimore City Community College
Out of the 1237 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, County College Of Morris landed the #5 spot. Read more about County College Of Morris
Edp College Of Puerto Rico Inc San Juan placed #6 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Edp College Of Puerto Rico Inc San Juan
Indian River State College did well this year, earning the #7 position. More on Indian River State College
Nassau Community College came in at #8 in this year's ranking. See the full Nassau Community College profile
Roger Williams University landed the #9 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Roger Williams University
University Of Delaware placed #10 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Delaware
Washburn University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. Read more about Washburn University
Coastal Carolina University placed #12 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Get the full Coastal Carolina University report
Cuny New York City College Of Technology placed #13 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Cuny New York City College Of Technology
Delta College Of Arts And Technology did well this year, earning the #14 position. Get the full Delta College Of Arts And Technology report
Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies
Saint Xavier University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Saint Xavier University
University Of Puerto Rico Carolina ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. Get the full University Of Puerto Rico Carolina report
Liberty University did well this year, earning the #18 position. More on Liberty University
Miami Dade College landed the #19 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Miami Dade College
Northern Arizona University did well this year, earning the #20 position. More on Northern Arizona University
Seminole State College Of Florida placed #21 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Get the full Seminole State College Of Florida report
Trident Technical College did well this year, earning the #22 position. Read more about Trident Technical College
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College did well this year, earning the #23 position. Read more about Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College
Lamar Institute Of Technology landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Lamar Institute Of Technology report
Stonehill College came in at #25 in this year's ranking. More on Stonehill College
Rest of the Top 50 Best Design And Applied Arts Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Triton College
Triton College landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Triton College report
Tyler Junior College did well this year, earning the #27 position. Read the full report on Tyler Junior College
Lassen Community College ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. Get the full Lassen Community College report
Metro Technology Centers came in at #29 in this year's ranking. More on Metro Technology Centers
Southern Oregon University came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Get the full Southern Oregon University report
John Wood Community College placed #31 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on John Wood Community College
Montclair State University ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. See the full Montclair State University profile
Morningside College came in at #33 in this year's ranking. More on Morningside College
Austin Community College District landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Austin Community College District
Community College Of Allegheny County landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. See the full Community College Of Allegheny County profile
Harper College
Harper College ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. See the full Harper College profile
Kansas Wesleyan University ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. Read the full report on Kansas Wesleyan University
Liceo De Arte Y Tecnologia landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. More on Liceo De Arte Y Tecnologia
The University Of Montana came in at #39 in this year's ranking. Read more about The University Of Montana
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point did well this year, earning the #40 position. Read the full report on University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point
Drake University
Drake University landed the #41 spot in the United States this year. See the full Drake University profile
Hinds Community College came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Read more about Hinds Community College
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania placed #43 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. See the full Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania profile
Maine College Of Art did well this year, earning the #44 position. Read more about Maine College Of Art
University Of Akron Main Campus ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. More on University Of Akron Main Campus
Arkansas State University Mountain Home came in at #46 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Arkansas State University Mountain Home
Central Arizona College came in at #47 in this year's ranking. See the full Central Arizona College profile
Clemson University placed #48 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Clemson University
Northwest College Of Art And Design came in at #49 in this year's ranking. Read more about Northwest College Of Art And Design
Porterville College ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. See the full Porterville College profile
Related Design And Applied Arts Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Design And Applied Arts Schools (All Levels)
- Best Design And Applied Arts Certificate Degree Schools
- 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
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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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