2026 Best Design And Applied Arts Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Design And Applied Arts undergraduate certificate degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 1237 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor evaluated 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 Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
A rank of #2 makes Gnomon School Of Visual Effects one of the top choices in the United States. Gnomon School Of Visual Effects is a private for-profit school based in North Hollywood, CA. Gnomon School Of Visual Effects posts a six-year graduation rate of 100%. In-state tuition and fees average $37,635. Gnomon School Of Visual Effects Design And Applied Arts students take on a median of $38,000 in debt. See the full Gnomon School Of Visual Effects profile
The strong Design And Applied Arts programs at Miami Ad School At Portfolio Center earned it the #3 place in the United States. Based in Atlanta, GA, Miami Ad School At Portfolio Center is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $19,400. See the full Miami Ad School At Portfolio Center profile
The strong Design And Applied Arts programs at Collin County Community College District earned it the #4 place in the United States. Based in McKinney, TX, Collin County Community College District is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Read more about Collin County Community College District
Century College came in at #5 on this year's Design And Applied Arts ranking in the United States. This public school is set in White Bear Lake, MN. Students from in state pay about $6,214 in tuition and fees. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $15,000. Read more about Century College
Gwinnett Technical College placed #6 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Based in Lawrenceville, GA, Gwinnett Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $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. More on Gwinnett Technical College
Scottsdale Community College landed the #7 spot in the United States this year. Set in Scottsdale, AZ, Scottsdale Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $13,084 in student loans. Get the full Scottsdale Community College report
Ivy Tech Community College did well this year, earning the #8 position. Set in Indianapolis, IN, Ivy Tech Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,154, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Graduates carry a median of $12,710 in student loans. Read more about Ivy Tech Community College
Johnson County Community College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Located in Overland Park, KS, Johnson County Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,424, while out-of-state students pay about $5,688. Johnson County Community College Design And Applied Arts students take on a median of $13,625 in debt. Read the full report on Johnson County Community College
Central Piedmont Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. Located in Charlotte, NC, Central Piedmont Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans. See the full Central Piedmont Community College profile
Minneapolis Community And Technical College came in at #11 in this year's ranking. 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. Get the full Minneapolis Community And Technical College report
El Centro College did well this year, earning the #12 position. Based in Dallas, TX, El Centro College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,730, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,835 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. Read the full report on El Centro College
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design did well this year, earning the #13 position. Set in Boston, MA, Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,400, compared with $43,400 for out-of-state students. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $22,500. Get the full Massachusetts College Of Art And Design report
Austin Community College District placed #14 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Based in Austin, TX, Austin Community College District is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $19,939. See the full Austin Community College District profile
Clary Sage College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. Located in Tulsa, OK, Clary Sage College is a private not-for-profit institution. Clary Sage College Design And Applied Arts students take on a median of $10,941 in debt. Read more about Clary Sage College
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Students borrow a median of $13,625 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. Read the full report on Des Moines Area Community College
The University Of Montana did well this year, earning the #17 position. The University Of Montana is a public school based in Missoula, MT. The University Of Montana graduates 49% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,552, compared with $33,671 for out-of-state students. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $24,342. Read more about The University Of Montana
Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. Set in Harrisburg, PA, Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,975, while out-of-state students pay about $12,472. Graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Read more about Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg
Macomb Community College landed the #19 spot in the United States this year. Set in Warren, MI, Macomb Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $10,500. More on Macomb Community College
Oklahoma City Community College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Based in Oklahoma City, OK, Oklahoma City Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,059, while out-of-state students pay about $9,810. Students borrow a median of $14,250 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. Read the full report on Oklahoma City Community College
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a public school based in Little Rock, AR. About 37% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,911, while out-of-state students pay about $22,721. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock Design And Applied Arts students take on a median of $27,093 in debt. Get the full University Of Arkansas At Little Rock report
Northern Virginia Community College did well this year, earning the #22 position. Set in Annandale, VA, Northern Virginia Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,891, compared with $12,410 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $18,250 in student loans. More on Northern Virginia Community College
Los Angeles Trade Technical College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Set in Los Angeles, CA, Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,238, while out-of-state students pay about $10,572. Students borrow a median of $14,833 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. Get the full Los Angeles Trade Technical College report
Saint Louis Community College placed #24 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Set in Bridgeton, MO, Saint Louis Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $6,990. Students borrow a median of $11,424 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. Read the full report on Saint Louis Community College
Cuyahoga Community College District did well this year, earning the #25 position. Set in Cleveland, OH, Cuyahoga Community College District is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,249, while out-of-state students pay about $7,249. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $11,795. Get the full Cuyahoga Community College District report
San Diego Mesa College came in at #26 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in San Diego, CA. San Diego Mesa College posts a six-year graduation rate of 92%. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,146, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Typical Design And Applied Arts student debt is $6,999. Get the full San Diego Mesa College report
Rest of the Top 50 Best Design And Applied Arts Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Nassau Community College came in at #27 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Garden City, NY. Students from in state pay about $6,330 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,130. Students borrow a median of $10,600 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. Read more about Nassau Community College
Liceo De Arte Y Tecnologia did well this year, earning the #28 position. Based in San Juan, PR, Liceo De Arte Y Tecnologia is a private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,051. Get the full Liceo De Arte Y Tecnologia report
Bethel University Minnesota ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. Read more about Bethel University Minnesota
Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #29 in this year's ranking. More on Bowling Green State University Main Campus
Clark State Community College did well this year, earning the #30 position. More on Clark State Community College
Irvine Valley College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. More on Irvine Valley College
Mcmurry University ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. Get the full Mcmurry University report
Montana State University came in at #33 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Montana State University
Odessa College
Odessa College ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. More on Odessa College
Peace College
Peace College ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. Read more about Peace College
Stark State College did well this year, earning the #36 position. Get the full Stark State College report
Meridian Technology Center landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. See the full Meridian Technology Center profile
Trinity International University Illinois placed #38 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Trinity International University Illinois
Truckee Meadows Community College placed #39 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Truckee Meadows Community College
University Of Central Oklahoma placed #40 among Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Central Oklahoma
Western Michigan University landed the #41 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Western Michigan University
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. Read the full report on Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
Converse College
Converse College landed the #43 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Converse College
Lesley University ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. Read more about Lesley University
San Diego City College ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. Get the full San Diego City College report
Spokane Falls Community College ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Design And Applied Arts schools. Read more about Spokane Falls Community College
St Johns University New York came in at #47 in this year's ranking. See the full St Johns University New York profile
Benedictine University landed the #48 spot in the United States this year. More on Benedictine University
Central Wyoming College came in at #49 in this year's ranking. More on Central Wyoming College
Community College Of Allegheny County did well this year, earning the #50 position. Read more about Community College Of Allegheny County
Related Design And Applied Arts Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Design And Applied Arts Schools (All Levels)
- Best Design And Applied Arts 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
The ranking above is published 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).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.