2026 Best Value Design And Applied Arts Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Design And Applied Arts graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 1237 schools 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.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor evaluated schools to build 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 Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Arizona State University Skysong earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. Arizona State University Skysong is a public school based in Scottsdale, AZ. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,627, compared with $13,925 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,742 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $62,668 ten years after entry. Set against $23,742 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 67% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full Arizona State University Skysong report
Marywood University came in at #2 on this year's best-value Design And Applied Arts ranking in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Scranton, PA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,420. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $27,362. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,817. Set against $27,362 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%. Get the full Marywood University report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bowling Green State University Main Campus earned it the #4 place in the United States. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public school based in Bowling Green, OH. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,912, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Median earnings reach $47,896 ten years out. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bowling Green State University Main Campus has an acceptance rate of 81%. See the full Bowling Green State University Main Campus profile
Mercyhurst College came in at #5 on this year's best-value Design And Applied Arts ranking in the United States. Based in Erie, PA, Mercyhurst College is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $45,770. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. Mercyhurst College alumni report median earnings of $47,452 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted. Get the full Mercyhurst College report
Iowa State University came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Located in Ames, IA, Iowa State University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Iowa State University Design And Applied Arts students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,386. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Iowa State University has an acceptance rate of 89%. Read the full report on Iowa State University
Michigan State University placed #7 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Located in East Lansing, MI, Michigan State University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Graduates carry a median of $28,175 in student loans. Median earnings reach $67,253 ten years out. Set against $28,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants. See the full Michigan State University profile
University Of Kansas landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Lawrence, KS, University Of Kansas is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,102 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. Typical Design And Applied Arts student debt is $26,000. Graduates go on to earn a median of $61,945 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 94% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about University Of Kansas
California State University Monterey Bay landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Seaside, CA, California State University Monterey Bay is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,779, while out-of-state students pay about $20,379. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $14,827. Median earnings reach $59,247 ten years out. Set against $14,827 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 97% of those who apply are admitted. See the full California State University Monterey Bay profile
Florida International University placed #10 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Set in Miami, FL, Florida International University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,565 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Students borrow a median of $19,349 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. Florida International University alumni report median earnings of $60,249 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida International University has an acceptance rate of 55%. More on Florida International University
American University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. Based in Washington, DC, American University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $58,771. American University Design And Applied Arts students take on a median of $24,139 in debt. Median earnings reach $77,370 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $24,139 median debt. American University has an acceptance rate of 62%. Read more about American University
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in Philadelphia, PA, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,686. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $16,155. Graduates go on to earn a median of $111,371 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $16,155 median debt. University Of Pennsylvania admits about 5% of applicants. See the full University Of Pennsylvania profile
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a public school based in Boston, MA. Students from in state pay about $15,400 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $43,400. Typical Design And Applied Arts student debt is $22,500. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,582 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%. Get the full Massachusetts College Of Art And Design report
School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Chicago, IL, School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,623. School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago Design And Applied Arts students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. Median earnings reach $40,151 ten years out. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 78% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago report
Columbus College Of Art And Design ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. Read more about Columbus College Of Art And Design
Converse College
Converse College came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Converse College report
Great Basin College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. Read more about Great Basin College
Illinois State University placed #17 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. See the full Illinois State University profile
Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design placed #18 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. See the full Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design profile
Navarro College
Navarro College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. Read more about Navarro College
Northwestern College Iowa came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. See the full Northwestern College Iowa profile
Prairie View A And M University placed #21 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. More on Prairie View A And M University
San Juan College
San Juan College placed #22 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on San Juan College
Sandhills Community College landed the #23 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Sandhills Community College
The University Of Texas At Dallas ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. See the full The University Of Texas At Dallas profile
Truckee Meadows Community College landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Truckee Meadows Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Design And Applied Arts Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
University Of Nebraska At Kearney came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of Nebraska At Kearney
Cleveland Institute Of Art came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Cleveland Institute Of Art
Mesa State College offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. Read more about Mesa State College
Nassau Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. See the full Nassau Community College profile
Orange Coast College placed #30 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. More on Orange Coast College
Pacific Union College came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Pacific Union College
Sussex County Community College placed #32 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Sussex County Community College
University Of Evansville placed #33 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. More on University Of Evansville
Alamance Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. Read more about Alamance Community College
Arizona State University offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. Read the full report on Arizona State University
Benedictine University placed #36 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Read more about Benedictine University
Cuny Queens College came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. More on Cuny Queens College
Hawkeye Community College ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. Read more about Hawkeye Community College
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus report
South Texas College ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. More on South Texas College
University Of Houston Victoria landed the #41 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Houston Victoria
Biola University
Biola University landed the #42 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Biola University
Century College
Century College came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. More on Century College
Endicott College
Endicott College landed the #44 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Endicott College profile
Fisher College
Fisher College placed #45 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. More on Fisher College
Kean University
Kean University placed #46 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. More on Kean University
Los Angeles Film School landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Los Angeles Film School
Nashville State Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #48 position. More on Nashville State Community College
Oregon State University offered strong value this year, earning the #49 position. Read more about Oregon State University
Randolph Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. More on Randolph Community College
Related Design And Applied Arts Value Rankings
Explore 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 Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value 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 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).
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