2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major
1,086
Ranked Colleges
$41,000
Avg Cost*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2021-2022, 36,323 people earned their degree in design & applied arts, making the major the 36th most popular in the United States. In , design & applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $32,210 and had an average of $24,297 in loans still to pay off.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major” ranking looked at 1,086 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in design & applied arts. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in design & applied arts.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank Design & Applied Arts Schools
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Schools Highly Focused on Design Major
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major”.
Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Design & Applied Arts
Out of the 1,086 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Design Institute of San Diego landed the #1 spot on the list. San Diego, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 30 students in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Design Institute of San Diego
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The Modern College of Design. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major list. Located in Kettering, Ohio, this small private for-profit school handed out 54 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full The Modern College of Design Design & Applied Arts Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwest College of Art & Design. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major list. NCAD is located in Tacoma, Washington and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 19 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Northwest College of Art & Design
Out of the 1,086 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Nossi College of Art landed the #4 spot on the list. Nossi College of Art is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 39 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Nossi College of Art Design & Applied Arts Report
Out of the 1,086 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Interior Designers Institute landed the #5 spot on the list. Newport Beach, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 47 students in 2021-2022.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Interior Designers Institute
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major ranking, coming in at #6. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a small school located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania that handed out 30 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Design & Applied Arts Report
With a ranking of #7, American Academy of Art did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major list. American Academy of Art is a private for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 22 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at American Academy of Art
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 124 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design Design & Applied Arts Report
College for Creative Studies did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major ranking, coming in at #9. Detroit, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 98 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at College for Creative Studies
The North Coast College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. The North Coast College is a small private for-profit school situated in Lakewood, Ohio. It awarded 10 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full The North Coast College Design & Applied Arts Report
Laguna College of Art and Design landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. Located in Laguna Beach, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 90 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at LCAD
New York School of Interior Design landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. NYSID is a small school located in New York, New York that handed out 155 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at NYSID
Wade College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. Wade College is located in Dallas, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 21 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Wade College
With a ranking of #14, Otis College of Art and Design did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major list. Otis College of Art and Design is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 132 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Otis College of Art and Design
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is a private for-profit institution located in Lakewood, Colorado. The school has a small population, and it awarded 122 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at RMCAD
With a ranking of #16, Maryland Institute College of Art did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major list. Maryland Institute College of Art is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Baltimore, Maryland. It awarded 314 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Maryland Institute College of Art
Columbus College of Art and Design ranked #17 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major list. CCAD is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 123 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Columbus College of Art and Design
Art Academy of Cincinnati landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. This small school is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and it awarded 26 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at AAC
Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. EAPD is a small school located in San Juan, Puerto Rico that handed out 19 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico
Cleveland Institute of Art ranked #20 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major list. Cleveland Institute of Art is a small school located in Cleveland, Ohio that handed out 65 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Cleveland Institute of Art Design & Applied Arts Report
With a ranking of #21, Art Center College of Design did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major list. Pasadena, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 264 students in 2021-2022.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Art Center College of Design
With a ranking of #22, Moore College of Art and Design did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major list. Moore College of Art and Design is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 48 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Moore College
Delaware College of Art and Design did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major ranking, coming in at #24. Delaware College of Art and Design is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Wilmington, Delaware. It awarded 13 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Delaware College of Art and Design Design & Applied Arts Report
Pratt Institute - Main came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. Brooklyn, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 413 students in 2021-2022.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Pratt Institute - Main Design & Applied Arts Report
