2023 Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools
Finding the Best Design & Applied Arts Associate 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.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 495 schools in the United States to see which associate degree programs were the most popular 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.
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.
2023 Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the United States
The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Colleges.
Top 25 Most Popular Schools for an Associate in Design & Applied Arts
Our 2023 rankings named Fashion Institute of Technology the most popular school in the United States for design and applied arts students working on their associate degree. Located in the large city of New York, FIT SUNY is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
About 83% of the students majoring in design at the school are women while 17% are male.
While working on their Associate Degree, design majors at FIT SUNY accumulate an average of around $13,754 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $263.
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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles is a great place for design and applied arts students working on their associate degree. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, FIDM Los Angeles is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Women make up 79% of the design majors at the school.
On average, design graduates from FIDM Los Angeles take out $16,621 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $491.
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A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Utah Valley University is a great place for design and applied arts students working on their associate degree. Located in the small city of Orem, UVU is a public school with a very large student population.
Women make up 74% of the design majors at the school.
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The in-demand associate degree programs at The New School helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular design and applied arts schools in the United States. New School University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of New York.
About 80% of the students majoring in design at the school are women while 20% are male.
The average amount in student loans that design majors at New School University take out while working on their Associate Degree is $23,193.
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A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Portland Community College is a great place for design and applied arts students working on their associate degree. Portland Community College is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Portland.
Women make up 64% of the design majors at the school.
The average amount in student loans that design majors at Portland Community College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $23,904.
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Madison Area Technical College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the large city of Madison, Madison College is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Women make up 72% of the design majors at the school.
While working on their Associate Degree, design majors at Madison College accumulate an average of around $19,387 in student debt.
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With a ranking of #7, Wake Technical Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for design and applied arts students working on their associate degree. Wake Technical Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Raleigh.
Women make up 47% of the design majors at the school.
After completing their Associate Degree, design graduates from Wake Technical Community College carry an average student debt load of $16,864.
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With a ranking of #8, Full Sail University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for design and applied arts students working on their associate degree. Located in the suburb of Winter Park, Full Sail University is a private for-profit school with a very large student population.
Women make up 65% of the design majors at the school.
After completing their Associate Degree, design graduates from Full Sail University carry an average student debt load of $32,119.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Full Sail University Report
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Montgomery College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree design and applied arts programs. Montgomery College is a large public school located in the city of Rockville.
Of the 89 students majoring in design at Montgomery College, 51% are male and 49% are female.
After completing their Associate Degree, design graduates from Montgomery College carry an average student debt load of $17,984.
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Metropolitan Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the large city of Omaha, MCC is a public college with a fairly large student population.
About 70% of the students majoring in design at the school are women while 30% are male.
While working on their Associate Degree, design majors at MCC accumulate an average of around $13,937 in student debt.
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Ivy Tech Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree design and applied arts programs. Ivy Tech Community College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Indianapolis.
About 64% of the students majoring in design at the school are women while 36% are male.
Design majors at Ivy Tech Community College take out an average of $17,560 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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Miami Dade College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the large city of Miami, MDC is a public school with a fairly large student population.
About 64% of the students majoring in design at the school are women while 36% are male.
Design majors at MDC take out an average of $16,913 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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Kingsborough Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools ranking. KCC is a large public school located in the large city of Brooklyn.
Of the 76 students majoring in design at KCC, 49% are male and 51% are female.
Design majors at KCC take out an average of $11,031 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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El Centro College ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the large city of Dallas, El Centro College is a public school with a very large student population.
About 55% of the students majoring in design at the school are women while 45% are male.
After completing their Associate Degree, design graduates from El Centro College carry an average student debt load of $17,897.
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Macomb Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for design and applied arts students to get a associate degree. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Women make up 51% of the design majors at the school.
Design majors at Macomb Community College take out an average of $10,363 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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Central Piedmont Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for design and applied arts students to get a associate degree. It came in at #16 on the list. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a public college with a large student population.
Of the 68 students majoring in design at Central Piedmont Community College, 44% are male and 56% are female.
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Johnson County Community College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree design and applied arts programs. Located in the midsize city of Overland Park, JCCC is a public school with a large student population.
Women make up 62% of the design majors at the school.
After completing their Associate Degree, design graduates from JCCC carry an average student debt load of $14,972.
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Northern Virginia Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for design and applied arts students to get a associate degree. It came in at #18 on the list. Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public school located in the large suburb of Annandale.
About 79% of the students majoring in design at the school are women while 21% are male.
The average amount in student loans that design majors at Northern Virginia Community College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $24,041.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Northern Virginia Community College Report
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Collin County Community College District ranked #19 on this year’s Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools list. Collin County Community College District is a very large public school located in the midsize suburb of McKinney.
Women make up 53% of the design majors at the school.
After completing their Associate Degree, design graduates from Collin County Community College District carry an average student debt load of $14,236.
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Salt Lake Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for design and applied arts students to get a associate degree. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Community College is a public college with a very large student population.
About 74% of the students majoring in design at the school are women while 26% are male.
The average amount in student loans that design majors at Salt Lake Community College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $13,028.
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Santa Monica College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the small city of Santa Monica, SMC is a public college with a very large student population.
Of the 61 students majoring in design at SMC, 25% are male and 75% are female.
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Austin Community College District came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Of the 61 students majoring in design at Austin Community College District, 28% are male and 72% are female.
While working on their Associate Degree, design majors at Austin Community College District accumulate an average of around $20,482 in student debt.
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Arapahoe Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools ranking. Arapahoe Community College is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Littleton.
About 71% of the students majoring in design at the school are women while 29% are male.
The average amount in student loans that design majors at Arapahoe Community College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $23,598.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Arapahoe Community College Report
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The Modern College of Design ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the city of Kettering, The Modern College of Design is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Of the 59 students majoring in design at The Modern College of Design, 24% are male and 76% are female.
On average, design graduates from The Modern College of Design take out $8,516 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $279.
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Gateway Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for design and applied arts students to get a associate degree. It came in at #25 on the list. Gateway Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kenosha.
Of the 54 students majoring in design at Gateway Technical College, 28% are male and 72% are female.
On average, design graduates from Gateway Technical College take out $17,916 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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Additional Award Winners
This section shows the rest of the schools awarded a Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 495 different United States design and applied arts schools we analyzed.
Honorable Mentions
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools award.
Design & Applied Arts by Region
View the Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
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.
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 26 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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