Design & Applied Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their design & applied arts programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 1237 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for design & applied arts students pursuing a degree.
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San Jose State University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in design & applied arts. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 210 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in design & applied arts, ranking #2. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 35 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $63,449 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,250.
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A rank of #3 makes Chapman University one of the top schools for design & applied arts. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Orange. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 35 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Chapman University earn around $46,519 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
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University Of Southern California came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 78 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $64,846 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,262.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in design & applied arts, ranking #5. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 26 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
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University Of Florida ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Florida awarded about 55 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $43,144 early in their careers. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $19,839 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #7 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 96 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $44,506 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #8 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 62 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $44,930 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #9 among the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 78 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $46,761 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,802.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #10 for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 132 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $49,780 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $20,875 in student loans.
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University Of Notre Dame came in at #11 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. University Of Notre Dame graduates 95% of students within six years. University Of Notre Dame awarded about 18 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Notre Dame earn a median of $46,825 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,250.
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Lehigh University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Lehigh University in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $70,321 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,008.
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Purdue University Main Campus placed #13 among the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 68 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $44,602. Typical student debt for the program is $20,250.
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Worcester Polytechnic Institute earned the #14 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Worcester, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 20 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Worcester Polytechnic Institute generally make around $91,834. Typical student debt for the program is $26,259.
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University Of California Davis landed the #15 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 249 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of California Davis earn around $32,816 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
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Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #16 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 53 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $45,176 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,100 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Los Angeles came in at #17 for design & applied arts this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 49 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $57,615. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities landed the #18 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 128 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $42,462 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,000.
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University Of Pennsylvania came in at #19 for design & applied arts this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $99,682 early in their careers. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans.
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University Of Dayton earned the #20 position for design & applied arts this year. University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dayton. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 31 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Dayton in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Dayton earn a median of $43,609 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete this degree.
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Illinois State University came in at #21 for design & applied arts this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 32 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $39,287 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,986 to complete this degree.
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University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #22 spot for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 127 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $52,526. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,851 in student loans.
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Texas Christian University landed the #23 spot for design & applied arts this year. Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 45 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Texas Christian University in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $60,035 in their early career. Texas Christian University graduates carry a median of $22,960 in student loans.
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Southern Methodist University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 11 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Southern Methodist University in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Southern Methodist University earn around $70,632 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,712.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #25 for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 62 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $34,670 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,839 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Design & Applied Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s design & applied arts ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 1237 schools evaluated.
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 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).
