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2022 Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Making $0-$30k

13 Ranked Colleges
684 Degrees Awarded
$12,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Design & Applied Arts is the 34th most popular major in the country with 36,854 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, design and applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $29,542 and had an average of $27,114 in loans still to pay off.

Across Washington, there were 684 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,042 and $26,172 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 13 colleges that offer a degree in design and applied arts. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent design and applied arts programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the design and applied arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Design & Applied Arts Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for washington design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 13 Best Value Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Washington

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Making $0-$30k list. Seattle, Washington is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 51 students in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Washington” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for UW Seattle is $7,850 for Washington Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

#2

Washington State University

Pullman, Washington

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Washington State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Pullman, Washington, this large public school handed out 34 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our washington design students whose families make $0-$30k list, Wazzu has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Washington” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wazzu is $9,334 for Washington Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Wazzu Design & Applied Arts Report

#3

Western Washington University

Bellingham, Washington

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Western Washington University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Bellingham, Washington, this fairly large public school awarded 66 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our washington design students whose families make $0-$30k list, WWU has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Washington” ranking. It costs about $9,743 for washington design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Western Washington University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at WWU

#4

Clover Park Technical College

Lakewood, Washington

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Clover Park Technical College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Making $0-$30k list. CPTC is located in Lakewood, Washington and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 36 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

CPTC also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Washington” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $6,253 for Washington Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Clover Park Technical College.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at CPTC

#5

Bellevue College

Bellevue, Washington

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bellevue College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Making $0-$30k. Bellevue College is located in Bellevue, Washington and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 67 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our washington design students whose families make $0-$30k list, BC has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Washington” ranking. It costs about $6,386 for washington design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Bellevue College.

Full BC Design & Applied Arts Report

#6

Spokane Falls Community College

Spokane, Washington

Spokane Falls Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Spokane, Washington, this small public school awarded 37 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2019-2020.

Spokane Falls Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Washington” list. The yearly cost to attend Spokane Falls Community College is $4,799 for Washington Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Spokane Falls Community College

With a ranking of #7, Lake Washington Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Making $0-$30k list. Kirkland, Washington is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

LWTech also took the #11 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Washington” ranking. It costs about $6,852 for Washington Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lake Washington Institute of Technology.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Lake Washington Institute of Technology

#8

Central Washington University

Ellensburg, Washington

Central Washington University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Central Washington University is located in Ellensburg, Washington and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

CWU also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Washington” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Central Washington University is $9,875 for washington design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full CWU Design & Applied Arts Report

#9

Whitworth University

Spokane, Washington

Whitworth University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Making $0-$30k list. Spokane, Washington is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Whitworth, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Washington” ranking. It costs about $17,565 for Washington Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Whitworth.

The low student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%.

Full Whitworth Design & Applied Arts Report

#10

Seattle Pacific University

Seattle, Washington

Seattle Pacific University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Seattle Pacific University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Seattle, Washington. It awarded 33 ’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

SPU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Washington” list. It costs about $19,900 for Washington Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SPU.

The low student loan default rate of 2.0% 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%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Seattle Pacific University

#11

Seattle University

Seattle, Washington

Seattle University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Seattle, Washington, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 32 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Seattle U, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Washington” ranking. It costs about $23,730 for Washington Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Seattle U.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Seattle University

#12

Northwest College of Art & Design

Poulsbo, Washington
#13 in overall quality

Northwest College of Art & Design came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. NCAD is a small private for-profit school situated in Poulsbo, Washington. It awarded 20 ’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

NCAD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Washington” list. The yearly cost to attend Northwest College of Art & Design is $12,836 for Washington Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low 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 more about Design & Applied Arts at NCAD

#13

Cornish College of the Arts

Seattle, Washington

With a ranking of #13, Cornish College of the Arts did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cornish College of the Arts is a small school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 33 ’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Cornish College of the Arts also took the #6 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Washington” ranking. It costs about $31,070 for Washington Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Cornish College of the Arts.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The 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.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Cornish College of the Arts

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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