2023 Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools
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.
The Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 1,227 schools in the United States to see which ones were the most popular programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Design & Applied Arts program at each school on the list.
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2023 Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in the United States
The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Colleges.
Top 25 Most Popular Schools in Design & Applied Arts
Our analysis found Fashion Institute of Technology to be the most popular school for design and applied arts students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. Located in the city of New York, FIT SUNY is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
While working on their degree, design majors at FIT SUNY accumulate an average of around $19,000 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $288.
Out of the 1,227 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Savannah College of Art and Design landed the # 2 spot on the list. SCAD is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Savannah.
The average amount in student loans that design majors at SCAD take out is $27,000. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $981, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Savannah College of Art and Design Report
The excellent programs at Wake Technical Community 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. Wake Technical Community College is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Raleigh.
After completing their degree, design graduates from Wake Technical Community College carry an average student debt load of $12,411.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Wake Technical Community College Report
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Pratt Institute - Main is a great place for design and applied arts students. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute is a private not-for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population.
Design majors at Pratt Institute take out an average of $19,000 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $891.
Out of the 1,227 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, The New School landed the # 5 spot on the list. New School University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York.
While working on their degree, design majors at New School University accumulate an average of around $23,000 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $775.
With a ranking of #6, Full Sail University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for design and applied arts students. Located in the suburb of Winter Park, Full Sail University is a private for-profit college with a very large student population.
Design majors at Full Sail University take out an average of $36,689 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $274, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Southern New Hampshire University ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools list. Located in the suburb of Manchester, SNHU is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.
The average amount in student loans that design majors at SNHU take out is $32,500.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Southern New Hampshire University Report
Columbus State Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools list. Located in the large city of Columbus, Columbus State is a public college with a very large student population.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Columbus State Community College
Maryland Institute College of Art came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools ranking. Located in the city of Baltimore, MICA is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
On average, design graduates from MICA take out $27,000 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $779, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Virginia Commonwealth University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for design and applied arts students. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Richmond, VCU is a public college with a very large student population.
After completing their degree, design graduates from VCU carry an average student debt load of $26,274. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $280.
FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools list. Located in the city of Los Angeles, FIDM Los Angeles is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
The average amount in student loans that design majors at FIDM Los Angeles take out is $22,573. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $635.
Utah Valley University ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools list. Located in the small city of Orem, UVU is a public college with a very large student population.
On average, design graduates from UVU take out $21,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
With a ranking of #13, National University College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for design and applied arts students. National University College is a very large private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Bayamon.
On average, design graduates from National University College take out $5,500 in student loans while working on their degree.
Full Design & Applied Arts at National University College Report
Art Center College of Design ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools list. Located in the midsize city of Pasadena, Art Center College of Design is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
On average, design graduates from Art Center College of Design take out $31,000 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $878, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Art Center College of Design Report
With a ranking of #15, Columbia College Chicago did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for design and applied arts students. Columbia is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago.
After completing their degree, design graduates from Columbia carry an average student debt load of $27,000. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $485, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular design and applied arts programs. Located in the large city of Cincinnati, UC is a public school with a very large student population.
The average amount in student loans that design majors at UC take out is $25,333. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $365.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus
Iowa State University landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular design and applied arts programs. Iowa State is a very large public school located in the city of Ames.
Design majors at Iowa State take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $262.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Iowa State University
With a ranking of #18, Kent State University at Kent did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for design and applied arts students. Located in the large suburb of Kent, Kent State is a public school with a fairly large student population.
While working on their degree, design majors at Kent State accumulate an average of around $26,000 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $322.
Liberty University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for design and applied arts students. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.
While working on their degree, design majors at Liberty University accumulate an average of around $25,833 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $432.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Liberty University
University of California - Davis ranked #20 on this year’s Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools list. UC Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis.
After completing their degree, design graduates from UC Davis carry an average student debt load of $15,357. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $319.
Full Design & Applied Arts at University of California - Davis Report
School of Visual Arts came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools ranking. Located in the city of New York, SVA is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
While working on their degree, design majors at SVA accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $911.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at School of Visual Arts
Massachusetts College of Art and Design ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools list. Located in the city of Boston, Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a public school with a small student population.
Design majors at Massachusetts College of Art and Design take out an average of $22,625 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $322.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Massachusetts College of Art and Design Report
Seminole State College of Florida ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools list. Seminole State is a large public school located in the city of Sanford.
Design majors at Seminole State take out an average of $22,417 in student loans while working on their egree.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Seminole State College of Florida
With a ranking of #24, Drexel University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for design and applied arts students. Located in the large city of Philadelphia, Drexel is a private not-for-profit college with a very large student population.
Design majors at Drexel take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $888.
San Francisco State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for design and applied arts students. It came in at #25 on the list. Located in the city of San Francisco, SFSU is a public college with a fairly large student population.
After completing their degree, design graduates from SFSU carry an average student debt load of $18,687. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $378, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at San Francisco State University
Rest of the Top 50 Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools
Additional Award Winners
This section shows the remainder of the schools awarded a Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 1227 different United States design and applied arts schools we analyzed.
Honorable Mentions
Here are some additional popular schools for Design & Applied Arts students that almost earned our Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools award.
Design & Applied Arts by Region
View the Most Popular 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 |
Majors Related to 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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