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Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania

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2023 Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania

64 Colleges
$31,864 Avg Salary
$27,344 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Design & Applied Arts School for You

In 2020-2021, 1,238 degrees and certificates were awarded to design and applied arts students who went to a Pennsylvania college or university. This makes it the #39 most popular major in the state.

Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Our analysis looked at 64 schools in Pennsylvania to see which 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.

Check out the design programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in Pennsylvania.

#1

Drexel University

Philadelphia, PA

Our analysis found Drexel University to be the most popular school for design and applied arts students who want to pursue a degree in Pennsylvania. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, design graduates from Drexel carry an average student debt load of $27,000. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $888.

Full Design & Applied Arts at Drexel University Report

#2

Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, PA

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Thomas Jefferson University is a great place for design and applied arts students. Located in the large city of Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University is a private not-for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.

The average amount in student loans that design majors at Thomas Jefferson University take out is $27,000. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $515, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Thomas Jefferson University

Out of the 64 schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania landed the # 3 spot on the list. Kutztown University is a medium-sized public school located in the fringe town of Kutztown.

While working on their degree, design majors at Kutztown University accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $294.

Read More…

#4

Temple University

Philadelphia, PA

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Temple University is a great place for design and applied arts students. Located in the large city of Philadelphia, Temple is a public school with a very large student population.

Design majors at Temple take out an average of $26,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Temple University

#5

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Carnegie Mellon University is a great place for design and applied arts students. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.

After completing their degree, design graduates from Carnegie Mellon carry an average student debt load of $25,532.

Full Design & Applied Arts at Carnegie Mellon University Report

Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular design and applied arts programs. IUP is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Indiana.

The average amount in student loans that design majors at IUP take out is $27,000.

Full Design & Applied Arts at Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus Report

#7

The University of the Arts

Philadelphia, PA

The University of the Arts came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. UArts is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Philadelphia.

On average, design graduates from UArts take out $27,000 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $681.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at The University of the Arts

Moore College of Art and Design did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for design and applied arts students. It came in at #8 on the list. Moore College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Philadelphia.

After completing their degree, design graduates from Moore College carry an average student debt load of $27,000. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $726.

Full Design & Applied Arts at Moore College of Art and Design Report

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for design and applied arts students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

On average, design graduates from Pennsylvania College of Art and Design take out $27,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design

Community College of Allegheny County ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania list. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, CCAC is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Community College of Allegheny County

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 Schools in Pennsylvania award.

Rank College Location
11 Robert Morris University Moon Township, PA
12 Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PA
12 Albright College Reading, PA

Best Design & Applied Arts Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region

Explore all the Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Middle Atlantic Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
New York 4,391
Maryland 617
New Jersey 532
District of Columbia 84
Delaware 59

One of 10 majors within the area of study, design and applied arts has other similar majors worth exploring.

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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