2023 Best Value Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania
24
Ranked Colleges
1,282
Degrees Awarded
$18,200
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.
In 2020-2021, 36,301 people earned their degree in design and applied arts, making the major the 36th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, design and applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,426 and had an average of $25,481 in loans still to pay off.
Across Pennsylvania, there were 1,282 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,864 and $27,344 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 24 colleges that offer a degree in design and applied arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great design and applied arts programs and 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Design & Applied Arts Schools
The design school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k”.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for pennsylvania design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 24 Best Value Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UPenn, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UPenn is $580 for pennsylvania design students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at UPenn
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Carnegie Mellon University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 69 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Carnegie Mellon, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Carnegie Mellon University is $16,456 for Pennsylvania Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 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 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Carnegie Mellon
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lehigh Carbon Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 25 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania design students whose families make $0-$30k list, LCCC has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend LCCC is $4,307 for pennsylvania design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Lehigh Carbon Community College
Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northampton County Area Community College landed the #4 spot on the list. Northampton County Area Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It awarded 28 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Northampton Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $7,658 for Pennsylvania Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northampton Community College.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Northampton Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Harrisburg Area Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, this fairly large public school handed out 26 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
HACC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $9,741 for Pennsylvania Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Harrisburg Area Community College.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at HACC
Temple University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this large public school awarded 71 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
Temple not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $18,173 for pennsylvania design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Temple.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, 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 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Temple
Marywood University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Scranton, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 17 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Marywood, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Marywood is $18,249 for Pennsylvania Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Marywood University
Albright College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Reading, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 31 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Albright not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Albright College is $15,448 for pennsylvania design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Albright College
With a ranking of #9, Drexel University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 205 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Drexel, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Drexel is $24,508 for pennsylvania design students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.
Full Drexel University Design & Applied Arts Report
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Kutztown University is a medium-sized school located in Kutztown, Pennsylvania that handed out 72 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Kutztown University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $18,732 for pennsylvania design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
La Roche University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. La Roche University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania design students whose families make $0-$30k list, La Roche has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for La Roche is $18,744 for Pennsylvania Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 La Roche University
California University of Pennsylvania ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in California, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 15 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania design students whose families make $0-$30k list, Cal U has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $15,854 for Pennsylvania Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend California University of Pennsylvania.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Cal U
With a ranking of #13, Millersville University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Millersville is a medium-sized public school situated in Millersville, Pennsylvania. It awarded 18 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Millersville did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $17,224 for pennsylvania design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Millersville.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 68 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
IUP did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus is $19,397 for pennsylvania design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at IUP
With a ranking of #15, York College of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. YCP is a small private not-for-profit school situated in York, Pennsylvania. It awarded 19 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at YCP, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend YCP is $17,617 for pennsylvania design students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 York College of Pennsylvania
Susquehanna University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Susquehanna, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $17,040 for pennsylvania design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Susquehanna.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Susquehanna Design & Applied Arts Report
Mercyhurst University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mercyhurst is a small school located in Erie, Pennsylvania that handed out 25 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Mercyhurst also took the #12 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Mercyhurst is $23,922 for Pennsylvania Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Mercyhurst Design & Applied Arts Report
With a ranking of #18, Mansfield University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mansfield University of Pennsylvania is a public institution located in Mansfield, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Mansfield University also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #23. The yearly cost to attend Mansfield University of Pennsylvania is $9,043 for Pennsylvania Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Mansfield University of Pennsylvania Design & Applied Arts Report
Robert Morris University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Robert Morris University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. It awarded 34 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
RMU also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #21. The estimated yearly cost for RMU is $22,439 for Pennsylvania Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Robert Morris University
With a ranking of #20, Pennsylvania College of Technology did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, this small public school handed out 31 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
Penn College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Penn College is $20,928 for Pennsylvania Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Pennsylvania College of Technology
The University of the Arts landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UArts is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 59 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UArts not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $34,845 for pennsylvania design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UArts.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at UArts
Moore College of Art and Design ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 46 students in 2020-2021.
Moore College also took the #7 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Moore College of Art and Design is $36,079 for Pennsylvania Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 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 Moore College
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 10 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
PAFA also took the #11 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is $33,634 for pennsylvania design students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
South Hills School of Business & Technology landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in State College, Pennsylvania, this small private for-profit school handed out 5 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
South Hills School of Business & Technology not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend South Hills School of Business & Technology is $15,368 for Pennsylvania Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
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.
Full South Hills School of Business & Technology Design & Applied Arts Report
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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
- *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.
