2026 Best Value Design And Applied Arts Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Design And Applied Arts doctoral degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 1237 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor evaluated schools to compile this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Design And Applied Arts Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat Illinois Institute Of Technology this year in the United States. Set in Chicago, IL, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,202. Typical Design And Applied Arts student debt is $26,774. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $82,592. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted. Get the full Illinois Institute Of Technology report
Auburn University came in at #2 on this year's best-value Design And Applied Arts ranking in the United States. Located in Auburn, AL, Auburn University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,890, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $65,337. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 46% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on Auburn University
You'll get strong value at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, which ranked #3 this year. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public school based in Minneapolis, MN. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $69,020. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. About 80% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
A rank of #4 makes Albright College one of the best values in the United States. Get the full Albright College report
A rank of #5 makes California State University San Bernardino one of the best values in the United States. More on California State University San Bernardino
Lincoln Land Community College landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Lincoln Land Community College
Los Angeles Valley College landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Los Angeles Valley College profile
Louisiana Tech University offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. Read the full report on Louisiana Tech University
Ouachita Baptist University placed #9 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. See the full Ouachita Baptist University profile
Texas Womans University landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Texas Womans University
University Of California Irvine placed #11 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of California Irvine
University Of North Florida came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of North Florida
West Liberty University offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. More on West Liberty University
Wilson College
Wilson College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. Get the full Wilson College report
Alverno College
Alverno College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. Read more about Alverno College
Chapman University offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. More on Chapman University
Digital Media Institute At Intertech came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Digital Media Institute At Intertech
Franklin College
Franklin College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. See the full Franklin College profile
Greensboro College landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Greensboro College profile
Guilford Technical Community College landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Guilford Technical Community College
Holy Family University placed #21 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. More on Holy Family University
Pitt Community College placed #22 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. See the full Pitt Community College profile
The College Of Idaho came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. More on The College Of Idaho
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Bemidji State University came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. See the full Bemidji State University profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Design And Applied Arts Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
California State Polytechnic University Pomona landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full California State Polytechnic University Pomona report
Florida State College At Jacksonville landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Florida State College At Jacksonville
Mississippi College ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. More on Mississippi College
Paradise Valley Community College ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. Get the full Paradise Valley Community College report
Yuba College
Yuba College landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Yuba College
Grove City College offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. Read the full report on Grove City College
Southeast Community College Area ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. Get the full Southeast Community College Area report
Southwestern Michigan College offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. Read more about Southwestern Michigan College
The University Of Texas Pan American offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. Read the full report on The University Of Texas Pan American
University Of California Santa Cruz landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of California Santa Cruz
University Of Central Oklahoma ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. See the full University Of Central Oklahoma profile
Walla Walla Community College came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Walla Walla Community College report
Bluffton University offered strong value this year, earning the #38 position. Read the full report on Bluffton University
New River Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. More on New River Community College
Burlington County College offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. Read the full report on Burlington County College
Central Virginia Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. More on Central Virginia Community College
Francis Tuttle Technology Center ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. Read the full report on Francis Tuttle Technology Center
Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar placed #43 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar
Northwest Nazarene University placed #44 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. More on Northwest Nazarene University
Rasmussen College North Dakota came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Rasmussen College North Dakota report
Salem State University offered strong value this year, earning the #46 position. Read the full report on Salem State University
San Diego City College ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. See the full San Diego City College profile
South Dakota State University landed the #48 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full South Dakota State University profile
St Catherine University placed #49 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Read more about St Catherine University
Baylor University placed #50 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. More on Baylor University
Related Design And Applied Arts Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value Design And Applied Arts Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Design And Applied Arts Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Design And Applied Arts Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Design And Applied Arts Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Design And Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Design And Applied Arts Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Design And Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 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.