2023 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Bachelor's Degree Schools
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
Finding the Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor's Degree 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.
The Best Value Design & Applied Arts Bachelor's Degree Schools ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 356 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best value bachelor's degree programs for design students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
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 for a Bachelor's in Design & Applied Arts
Our analysis found Brigham Young University - Provo to be the best value school for design and applied arts students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the United States. BYU is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at BYU are $6,120 per year. The average amount in student loans that design majors at BYU take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $13,621.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Brigham Young University - Provo Report
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bellevue University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. Located in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Bellevue University are $8,310 a year. The average amount in student loans that design majors at Bellevue University take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $30,063.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Bellevue University also is in the top 5% of our Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools ranking.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bemidji State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. Bemidji State University is a small public school located in the remote town of Bemidji.
Bemidji State University undergraduate students pay an average of $9,806 in tuition and fees each year.
In addition to its great value ranking, Bemidji State University is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools list.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Bemidji State University Report
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Out of the 356 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Franklin University landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the large city of Columbus, Franklin University is a private not-for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Franklin University are $9,577 per year. While working on their Bachelor's Degree, design majors at Franklin University accumulate an average of around $40,496 in student debt.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Franklin University Report
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend West Texas A&M University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. West Texas A&M University is a medium-sized public school located in the town of Canyon.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at West Texas A&M University are $11,208 per year.
Full Design & Applied Arts at West Texas A&M University Report
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North Dakota State University - Main Campus came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the medium-sized city of Fargo, North Dakota State University is a public college with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at North Dakota State University are $14,876 per year.
North Dakota State University also claimed a spot on our Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
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Western Carolina University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree design and applied arts programs. WCU is a large public school located in the distant town of Cullowhee.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WCU are $8,367 per year.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Western Carolina University Report
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South Dakota State University landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree design and applied arts programs. South Dakota State is a large public school located in the remote town of Brookings.
South Dakota State undergraduate students pay an average of $12,809 in tuition and fees each year. On average, design graduates from South Dakota State take out $30,985 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, South Dakota State also is in the top 15% of our Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools ranking.
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University of Wisconsin - Stout did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for design and applied arts students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the town of Menomonie, UW - Stout is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW - Stout are $17,820 a year. On average, design graduates from UW - Stout take out $24,522 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $131.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, UW - Stout also did well on our Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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EDP University - San Juan did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for design and applied arts students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #10 on the list. EDP - San Juan is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Juan.
EDP - San Juan undergraduate students pay an average of $6,200 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their Bachelor's Degree, design graduates from EDP - San Juan carry an average student debtload of $11,712.
Full Design & Applied Arts at EDP University - San Juan Report
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Bellevue College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for design and applied arts students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #11 on the list. BC is a fairly large public school located in the city of Bellevue.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at BC are $9,594 per year. While working on their Bachelor's Degree, design majors at BC accumulate an average of around $28,926 in student debt.
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With a ranking of #12, Central Michigan University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for design and applied arts students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the distant town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan is a public school with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Central Michigan are $13,094 per year. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $296.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Central Michigan University Report
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With a ranking of #13, Ferris State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for design and applied arts students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris is a public college with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Ferris are $13,188 per year. The average amount in student loans that design majors at Ferris take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $28,599. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $235, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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University of Akron Main Campus came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools ranking. University of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the medium-sized city of Akron.
University of Akron Main Campus undergraduate students pay an average of $11,880 in tuition and fees each year.
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University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the distant town of Stevens Point, UW - Stevens Point is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - Stevens Point are $17,035 per year.
Full Design & Applied Arts at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Report
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Kutztown University of Pennsylvania did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for design and applied arts students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #16 on the list. Kutztown University is a medium-sized public school located in the town of Kutztown.
Kutztown University undergraduate students pay an average of $15,170 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their Bachelor's Degree, design majors at Kutztown University accumulate an average of around $26,710 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $294, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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San Jose State University landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree design and applied arts programs. San Jose State is a fairly large public school located in the large city of San Jose.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at San Jose State are $19,732 a year.
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Seminole State College of Florida came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools ranking. Seminole State is a fairly large public school located in the city of Sanford.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Seminole State are $11,456 per year. On average, design graduates from Seminole State take out $24,443 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
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With a ranking of #19, Grand Canyon University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for design and applied arts students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the large city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Grand Canyon University are $17,189 per year.
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Arkansas State University - Main Campus ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. Located in the city of Jonesboro, A-State is a public college with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at A-State are $12,698 per year.
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Saint Cloud State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for design and applied arts students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #20 on the list. St. Cloud State University is a large public school located in the small city of Saint Cloud.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at St. Cloud State University are $18,010 a year. After completing their Bachelor's Degree, design graduates from St. Cloud State University carry an average student debtload of $26,716.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Saint Cloud State University Report
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Minnesota State University - Moorhead came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools ranking. MSU Moorhead is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Moorhead.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at MSU Moorhead are $17,564 a year. After completing their Bachelor's Degree, design graduates from MSU Moorhead carry an average student debtload of $21,980.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, MSU Moorhead also is in the top 20% of our Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools ranking.
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University of Northern Iowa did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for design and applied arts students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #23 on the list. Located in the small city of Cedar Falls, UNI is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UNI are $19,753 a year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, UNI also did well on our Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Full Design & Applied Arts at University of Northern Iowa Report
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Lake Washington Institute of Technology did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for design and applied arts students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #24 on the list. LWTech is a small public school located in the large suburb of Kirkland.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at LWTech are $10,146 per year. On average, design graduates from LWTech take out $14,462 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
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Millersville University of Pennsylvania ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. Millersville is a medium-sized public school located in the suburb of Millersville.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Millersville are $22,226 a year.
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Additional Award Winners
This section represents the remainder of the colleges awarded a Best Value Design & Applied Arts Bachelor's Degree Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 356 different United States design and applied arts schools we analyzed.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | Iowa State University | Ames, IA |
| 50 | University of Minnesota - Duluth | Duluth, MN |
| 50 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus | Cincinnati, OH |
| 50 | Lehman College | Bronx, NY |
| 50 | University of North Georgia | Dahlonega, GA |
Honorable Mentions
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Design & Applied Arts Bachelor's Degree Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 56 | Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, GA |
| 57 | University of North Texas | Denton, TX |
| 58 | Missouri State University - Springfield | Springfield, MO |
| 58 | Purdue University - Main Campus | West Lafayette, IN |
| 60 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona | Pomona, CA |
| 61 | SUNY Oneonta | Oneonta, NY |
| 62 | Texas State University | San Marcos, TX |
| 62 | University of Houston | Houston, TX |
| 62 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus | Indiana, PA |
| 65 | University of Advancing Technology | Tempe, AZ |
| 66 | University of Florida | Gainesville, FL |
| 67 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte, NC |
| 68 | San Francisco State University | San Francisco, CA |
| 68 | York College of Pennsylvania | York, PA |
| 68 | University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR |
| 71 | Utah Valley University | Orem, UT |
Design & Applied Arts by Region
View the Best Value Design & Applied Arts Bachelor's Degree 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.
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