2023 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
Finding the Best Design & Applied Arts School for You
Design & Applied Arts is the #36 most popular major in the country with 36,301 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.
Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 459 schools in the United States to see which programs offered the best value experiences for design students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
Featured Design Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts
Translate your creative ideas through concept, design and digital media with a bachelor's in graphic design online from Southern New Hampshire University.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality in Design & Applied Arts
Our analysis found Alexandria Technical & Community College to be the best value school for design and applied arts students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. ATCC is a small public school located in the remote town of Alexandria.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at ATCC are $5,910 a year. Design majors at ATCC take out an average of $12,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
ATCC also claimed a spot on our Best Design & Applied Arts Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Alexandria Technical & Community College
Request Information
Out of the 459 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Madison Area Technical College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in the large city of Madison, Madison College is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Madison College are $6,769 per year. While working on their degree, design majors at Madison College accumulate an average of around $14,374 in student debt.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Madison College also is in the top 5% of our Best Design & Applied Arts Schools ranking.
Request Information
The excellent programs at LDS Business College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best design and applied arts schools in the United States. LDS Business College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Salt Lake City.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at LDS Business College are $3,656 a year.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at LDS Business College
Request Information
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Metropolitan Community College is a great value for design and applied arts students. Located in the city of Omaha, MCC is a public school with a fairly large student population.
MCC undergraduate students pay an average of $4,680 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, design majors at MCC accumulate an average of around $12,098 in student debt.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Metropolitan Community College
Request Information
The excellent programs at Collin County Community College District helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best design and applied arts schools in the United States. Collin County Community College District is a very large public school located in the medium-sized suburb of McKinney.
Collin County Community College District undergraduate students pay an average of $5,104 in tuition and fees each year.
Collin County Community College District also claimed a spot on our Best Design & Applied Arts Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Collin County Community College District Report
Request Information
With a ranking of #6, Waukesha County Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for design and applied arts students. Located in the large suburb of Pewaukee, WCTC is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
WCTC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,603 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that design majors at WCTC take out is $15,554.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Waukesha County Technical College Report
Request Information
With a ranking of #7, Johnson County Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for design and applied arts students. Located in the midsize city of Overland Park, JCCC is a public school with a large student population.
JCCC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,352 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, design graduates from JCCC carry an average student debtload of $11,449.
JCCC excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Design & Applied Arts Schools list.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Johnson County Community College
Request Information
With a ranking of #8, Brigham Young University - Provo did quite well on this year’s best value schools for design and applied arts students. BYU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Provo.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at BYU are $6,120 a year. While working on their degree, design majors at BYU accumulate an average of around $10,250 in student debt.
In addition to its great value ranking, BYU is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Design & Applied Arts Schools list.
Request Information
Century College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for design and applied arts students. It came in at #9 on the list. Century College is a medium-sized public school located in the large suburb of White Bear Lake.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Century College are $5,907 per year.
In addition to its great value ranking, Century College is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Design & Applied Arts Schools list.
Request Information
Bismarck State College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools ranking. BSC is a small public school located in the city of Bismarck.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at BSC are $6,930 a year. While working on their degree, design majors at BSC accumulate an average of around $12,000 in student debt.
BSC excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Design & Applied Arts Schools list.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Bismarck State College
Request Information
Finger Lakes Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools list. Located in the rural area of Canandaigua, Finger Lakes Community College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Finger Lakes Community College are $6,710 a year.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Finger Lakes Community College Report
Request Information
Scottsdale Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools ranking. Located in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Scottsdale Community College are $7,854 a year. The average amount in student loans that design majors at Scottsdale Community College take out is $12,000.
Request Information
Spokane Falls Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools ranking. Spokane Falls Community College is a small public school located in the city of Spokane.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Spokane Falls Community College are $5,135 per year. While working on their degree, design majors at Spokane Falls Community College accumulate an average of around $14,193 in student debt.
Request Information
Western Technical College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools list. Located in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College is a public college with a small student population.
Western Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,687 in tuition and fees each year. On average, design graduates from Western Technical College take out $13,500 in student loans while working on their degree.
Request Information
Gwinnett Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for design and applied arts students. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Lawrenceville, GTC is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
GTC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,636 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that design majors at GTC take out is $16,605.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Gwinnett Technical College Report
Request Information
Bellevue University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value design and applied arts programs. Located in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.
Bellevue University undergraduate students pay an average of $8,310 in tuition and fees each year. Design majors at Bellevue University take out an average of $29,510 in student loans while working on their egree.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Bellevue University also did well on our Best Design & Applied Arts Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Bellevue University
Request Information
Milwaukee Area Technical College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools ranking. MATC is a fairly large public school located in the city of Milwaukee.
MATC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,908 in tuition and fees each year.
Request Information
Gateway Technical College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools ranking. Gateway Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kenosha.
Gateway Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,803 in tuition and fees each year. Design majors at Gateway Technical College take out an average of $14,333 in student loans while working on their egree.
Request Information
Macomb Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for design and applied arts students. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a public school with a large student population.
Macomb Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,680 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, design majors at Macomb Community College accumulate an average of around $9,255 in student debt.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Macomb Community College also did well on our Best Design & Applied Arts Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Request Information
Bemidji State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for design and applied arts students. It came in at #20 on the list. Bemidji State University is a small public school located in the remote town of Bemidji.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Bemidji State University are $9,806 per year. On average, design graduates from Bemidji State University take out $27,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
In addition to its great value ranking, Bemidji State University is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Design & Applied Arts Schools list.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Bemidji State University
Request Information
With a ranking of #21, Minneapolis Community and Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for design and applied arts students. Minneapolis Community and Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the large city of Minneapolis.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Minneapolis Community and Technical College are $5,906 a year. On average, design graduates from Minneapolis Community and Technical College take out $32,750 in student loans while working on their degree.
Request Information
El Centro College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for design and applied arts students. It came in at #22 on the list. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at El Centro College are $6,000 a year. After completing their degree, design graduates from El Centro College carry an average student debtload of $13,365.
El Centro College also claimed a spot on our Best Design & Applied Arts Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
Request Information
Sinclair Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools ranking. Sinclair Community College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Dayton.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Sinclair Community College are $8,076 per year. While working on their degree, design majors at Sinclair Community College accumulate an average of around $14,075 in student debt.
Sinclair Community College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Design & Applied Arts Schools list.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Sinclair Community College
Request Information
With a ranking of #24, Ivy Tech Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for design and applied arts students. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the large city of Indianapolis.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Ivy Tech Community College are $8,927 a year. Design majors at Ivy Tech Community College take out an average of $13,912 in student loans while working on their egree.
Ivy Tech Community College also claimed a spot on our Best Design & Applied Arts Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Ivy Tech Community College
Request Information
With a ranking of #25, Franklin University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for design and applied arts students. Located in the large city of Columbus, Franklin University is a private not-for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Franklin University are $9,577 per year. On average, design graduates from Franklin University take out $43,242 in student loans while working on their degree.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Franklin University Report
Request InformationRest of the Top Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
Additional Award Winners
This section represents the remainder of the colleges awarded a Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 459 different United States design and applied arts schools we analyzed.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Holyoke Community College | Holyoke, MA |
| 52 | Ferris State University | Big Rapids, MI |
| 53 | Central Michigan University | Mount Pleasant, MI |
| 54 | EDP University - San Juan | San Juan, PR |
| 55 | Lehigh Carbon Community College | Schnecksville, PA |
| 56 | Northwest College | Powell, WY |
| 57 | Salt Lake Community College | Salt Lake City, UT |
| 58 | University of Akron Main Campus | Akron, OH |
| 59 | Arizona State University - Skysong | Scottsdale, AZ |
| 60 | Kingsborough Community College | Brooklyn, NY |
| 61 | University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point | Stevens Point, WI |
| 62 | Brookdale Community College | Lincroft, NJ |
| 62 | College of Southern Nevada | Las Vegas, NV |
| 64 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | Kutztown, PA |
| 65 | Liberty University | Lynchburg, VA |
| 66 | San Jose State University | San Jose, CA |
| 67 | Kalamazoo Valley Community College | Kalamazoo, MI |
| 67 | Los Angeles Trade Technical College | Los Angeles, CA |
Honorable Mentions
Here are some additional great value schools for Design & Applied Arts students seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools award.
Design & Applied Arts by Region
View the Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
Other Related Design Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts
Translate your creative ideas through concept, design and digital media with a bachelor's in graphic design online from Southern New Hampshire University.
Take the first step toward a career of visual expression and doing what you love with this online associate degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Learn to create a striking portfolio and hone the skills you need to succeed in the world of professional photography with this online digital photography degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Design & Applied Arts Related Majors for Design
One of 10 majors within the area of study, design and applied arts has other similar majors worth exploring.
Most Popular Majors Related to Design
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Fine & Studio Arts | 37,413 |
| Music | 25,910 |
| Drama & Theater Arts | 17,341 |
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 16,778 |
| General Visual & Performing Arts | 6,355 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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.