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.
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2023 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in the United States
Check out the design programs at these schools if you want to get the best value for your educational dollar.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality in Design & Applied Arts
Our 2023 rankings named Alexandria Technical & Community College the best value school in the United States for design and applied arts students. ATCC is a small public school located in the 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.
In addition to its great value ranking, ATCC is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Design & Applied Arts Schools list.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Madison Area Technical College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools list. Located in the large city of Madison, Madison College is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Madison College are $6,769 a year. While working on their degree, design majors at Madison College accumulate an average of around $14,374 in student debt.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Madison College also did well on our Best Design & Applied Arts Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Madison Area Technical College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend LDS Business College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools list. LDS Business College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the 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.
Out of the 459 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Metropolitan Community College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the city of Omaha, MCC is a public college with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at MCC are $4,680 a year. While working on their degree, design majors at MCC accumulate an average of around $12,098 in student debt.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Metropolitan Community College Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Collin County Community College District. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools list. 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
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 suburb of Pewaukee, WCTC is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WCTC are $6,603 per year. The average amount in student loans that design majors at WCTC take out is $15,554.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Waukesha County Technical College
Johnson County Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools list. Located in the city of Overland Park, JCCC is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at JCCC are $5,352 a year. After completing their degree, design graduates from JCCC carry an average student debtload of $11,449.
In addition to its great value ranking, JCCC is 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
Brigham Young University - Provo did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for design and applied arts students. It came in at #8 on the list. BYU is a very 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.
BYU 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 Brigham Young University - Provo
Century College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value design and applied arts programs. Century College is a moderately-sized public school located in the large suburb of White Bear Lake.
Century College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,907 in tuition and fees each year.
Century 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 Century College
With a ranking of #10, Bismarck State College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for design and applied arts students. BSC is a small public school located in the small 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 also claimed a spot on our Best Design & Applied Arts Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Bismarck State College
With a ranking of #11, Finger Lakes Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for design and applied arts students. Located in the rural area of Canandaigua, Finger Lakes Community College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Finger Lakes Community College are $6,710 per year.
Scottsdale Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools list. Located in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Scottsdale Community College are $7,854 per year. The average amount in student loans that design majors at Scottsdale Community College take out is $12,000.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Scottsdale Community College Report
Spokane Falls Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools list. Spokane Falls Community College is a small public school located in the medium-sized city of Spokane.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Spokane Falls Community College are $5,135 a year. While working on their degree, design majors at Spokane Falls Community College accumulate an average of around $14,193 in student debt.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Spokane Falls Community College
Western Technical College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools list. Located in the small city of La Crosse, Western Technical College is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Western Technical College are $6,687 a year. On average, design graduates from Western Technical College take out $13,500 in student loans while working on their degree.
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 suburb of Lawrenceville, GTC is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at GTC are $5,636 per year. The average amount in student loans that design majors at GTC take out is $16,605.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Gwinnett Technical College
Bellevue University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value design and applied arts programs. Located in the large suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Bellevue University are $8,310 a year. Design majors at Bellevue University take out an average of $29,510 in student loans while working on their egree.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Bellevue University also is in the top 10% of our Best Design & Applied Arts Schools ranking.
Milwaukee Area Technical College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value design and applied arts programs. MATC is a large public school located in the city of Milwaukee.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MATC are $6,908 per year.
Gateway Technical College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value design and applied arts programs. Gateway Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in the midsize 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.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Gateway Technical College
Macomb Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools list. Located in the medium-sized city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a public college with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Macomb Community College are $7,680 a year. While working on their degree, design majors at Macomb Community College accumulate an average of around $9,255 in student debt.
Macomb 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.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Macomb Community College Report
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.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Bemidji State University are $9,806 a year. On average, design graduates from Bemidji State University take out $27,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Bemidji State University also is in the top 10% of our Best Design & Applied Arts Schools ranking.
Minneapolis Community and 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 #21 on the list. Minneapolis Community and Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in the 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.
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.
El Centro College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,000 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, design graduates from El Centro College carry an average student debtload of $13,365.
El Centro College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Design & Applied Arts Schools list.
Sinclair Community College landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value design and applied arts programs. Sinclair Community College is a fairly large public school located in the midsize city of Dayton.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Sinclair Community College are $8,076 a year. While working on their degree, design majors at Sinclair Community College accumulate an average of around $14,075 in student debt.
In addition to its great value ranking, Sinclair Community College is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Design & Applied Arts Schools list.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Sinclair Community College Report
Ivy Tech 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 #24 on the list. Ivy Tech Community College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Indianapolis.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Ivy Tech Community College are $8,927 per year. Design majors at Ivy Tech Community College take out an average of $13,912 in student loans while working on their egree.
In addition to its great value ranking, Ivy Tech Community College is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Design & Applied Arts Schools list.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Ivy Tech Community College
Franklin University landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value design and applied arts programs. Located in the large city of Columbus, Franklin University is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-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.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Franklin University
Rest of the Top Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
Additional Award Winners
This list shows the remainder of the schools 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
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.
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