2026 Best Design And Applied Arts Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Design And Applied Arts graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 1237 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed schools to compile 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 Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
Michigan State University earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in the United States. This public school is set in East Lansing, MI. Michigan State University graduates 81% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Michigan State University Design And Applied Arts students take on a median of $28,175 in debt. Get the full Michigan State University report
The strong Design And Applied Arts programs at American University earned it the #3 place in the United States. Located in Washington, DC, American University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,771. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $24,139. Read the full report on American University
Out of the 1237 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of Pennsylvania landed the #4 spot. University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit school based in Philadelphia, PA. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,686. University Of Pennsylvania Design And Applied Arts students take on a median of $16,155 in debt. More on University Of Pennsylvania
The strong Design And Applied Arts programs at Iowa State University earned it the #5 place in the United States. Iowa State University is a public school based in Ames, IA. Iowa State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 75%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Typical Design And Applied Arts student debt is $27,000. Read more about Iowa State University
Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Set in Bowling Green, OH, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public institution. Bowling Green State University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 61%. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,912, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Bowling Green State University Main Campus Design And Applied Arts students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. Read more about Bowling Green State University Main Campus
University Of Kansas landed the #7 spot in the United States this year. Set in Lawrence, KS, University Of Kansas is a public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, while out-of-state students pay about $30,432. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. Read more about University Of Kansas
Marywood University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Scranton, PA. Marywood University posts a six-year graduation rate of 72%. In-state tuition and fees average $41,420. Graduates carry a median of $27,362 in student loans. See the full Marywood University profile
Arizona State University Skysong ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. This public school is set in Scottsdale, AZ. Students from in state pay about $11,627 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,925. Graduates carry a median of $23,742 in student loans. More on Arizona State University Skysong
Mercyhurst College did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Erie, PA, Mercyhurst College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,770. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. Read more about Mercyhurst College
Florida International University did well this year, earning the #11 position. Florida International University is a public school based in Miami, FL. Florida International University graduates 74% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,565, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Typical Design And Applied Arts student debt is $19,349. More on Florida International University
School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago did well this year, earning the #12 position. Located in Chicago, IL, School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $54,623 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read the full report on School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Boston, MA. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design posts a six-year graduation rate of 69%. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,400, while out-of-state students pay about $43,400. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $22,500. See the full Massachusetts College Of Art And Design profile
California State University Monterey Bay did well this year, earning the #14 position. Set in Seaside, CA, California State University Monterey Bay is a public institution. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,779, compared with $20,379 for out-of-state students. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $14,827. Read more about California State University Monterey Bay
Concordia University Seward placed #14 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Get the full Concordia University Seward report
Pennsylvania Western University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. More on Pennsylvania Western University
University Of California Berkeley landed the #16 spot in the United States this year. See the full University Of California Berkeley profile
Ursuline College
Ursuline College did well this year, earning the #17 position. See the full Ursuline College profile
Cuyahoga Community College District came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Cuyahoga Community College District
Dakota Wesleyan University landed the #19 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Dakota Wesleyan University
Digital Media Institute At Intertech ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. More on Digital Media Institute At Intertech
Lincoln Land Community College placed #21 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. More on Lincoln Land Community College
California State University Fullerton landed the #22 spot in the United States this year. See the full California State University Fullerton profile
Central Lakes College Brainerd did well this year, earning the #23 position. Read the full report on Central Lakes College Brainerd
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. More on Cincinnati State Technical And Community College
The Sage Colleges did well this year, earning the #25 position. Read the full report on The Sage Colleges
Rest of the Top 50 Best Design And Applied Arts Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Bellevue University did well this year, earning the #26 position. More on Bellevue University
Kansas City Art Institute came in at #27 in this year's ranking. Read more about Kansas City Art Institute
National University placed #28 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. More on National University
Southern Crescent Technical College placed #29 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Get the full Southern Crescent Technical College report
Cuyahoga Valley Career Center did well this year, earning the #30 position. Read more about Cuyahoga Valley Career Center
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary placed #31 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. More on Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Mt Hood Community College landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Mt Hood Community College
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. See the full Saint Marys University Of Minnesota profile
Community College Of Allegheny County landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Community College Of Allegheny County
Cuny Graduate School And University Center ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. More on Cuny Graduate School And University Center
Glendale Community College Glendale Ca did well this year, earning the #36 position. Get the full Glendale Community College Glendale Ca report
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne did well this year, earning the #37 position. See the full Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne profile
Kansas State University placed #38 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. More on Kansas State University
Macomb Community College ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. More on Macomb Community College
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. See the full Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College profile
Mountwest Community And Technical College placed #41 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Read more about Mountwest Community And Technical College
Wright State University Lake Campus came in at #42 in this year's ranking. More on Wright State University Lake Campus
Benedictine College ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. Read more about Benedictine College
Bristol Community College did well this year, earning the #44 position. More on Bristol Community College
College Of Marin
College Of Marin ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. Read more about College Of Marin
Hampshire College ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. Read the full report on Hampshire College
Harford Community College landed the #47 spot in the United States this year. See the full Harford Community College profile
Northwest Technology Center Alva did well this year, earning the #48 position. Get the full Northwest Technology Center Alva report
Spokane Falls Community College came in at #49 in this year's ranking. See the full Spokane Falls Community College profile
University Of Central Missouri did well this year, earning the #50 position. Read the full report on University Of Central Missouri
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 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. 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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