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2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k

25 Ranked Colleges
833 Degrees Awarded
$20,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor's in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k

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 for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 36,854 people earned their degree in design and applied arts, making the major the 34th most popular in the United States. 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 Pennsylvania, there were 1,110 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,866 and $26,524 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 833 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 25 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.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the design and applied arts program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique 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 for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $30-$48k) in Pennsylvania

#1

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Out of the 25 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Carnegie Mellon University landed the #1 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 37 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

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 Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Carnegie Mellon is $13,782 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Carnegie Mellon University Design & Applied Arts Report

#2

Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

Mansfield, Pennsylvania

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Mansfield University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k. Mansfield, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s design degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mansfield University, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mansfield University of Pennsylvania is $16,252 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

#3

Albright College

Reading, Pennsylvania

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Albright College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k. Albright College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Reading, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 25 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Albright also took the #19 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $15,867 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Albright.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Albright

#4

Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Millersville, Pennsylvania
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Millersville University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Millersville is located in Millersville, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

Millersville did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Millersville University of Pennsylvania is $19,065 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Millersville

#5

Susquehanna University

Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Susquehanna University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Susquehanna University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Susquehanna, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Susquehanna is $19,548 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.8% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Susquehanna Design & Applied Arts Report

#6

California University of Pennsylvania

California, Pennsylvania

California University of Pennsylvania came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in California, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 22 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal U, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cal U is $14,428 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full California University of Pennsylvania Design & Applied Arts Report

#7

Marywood University

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Marywood University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Marywood University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It awarded 18 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Marywood also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend Marywood University is $18,457 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Marywood Design & Applied Arts Report

#8

Temple University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Temple University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s design degrees to 54 students in 2019-2020.

Temple did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $18,879 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $30-$48k 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.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Temple

#9

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown, Pennsylvania

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school handed out 53 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Kutztown University, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Kutztown University is $19,098 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Design & Applied Arts Report

#10

York College of Pennsylvania

York, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #10, York College of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in York, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 9 degrees to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2019-2020.

YCP also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend YCP is $15,411 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#11

La Roche University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

La Roche University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. La Roche University is a small school located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that handed out 12 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

La Roche did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for La Roche is $17,935 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at La Roche University

#12

Cabrini University

Radnor, Pennsylvania

Cabrini University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Cabrini University is located in Radnor, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

Cabrini University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Cabrini University is $19,242 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Cabrini University

#13

Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Thomas Jefferson University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Thomas Jefferson University is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 68 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

Thomas Jefferson University also took the #3 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Thomas Jefferson University is $20,167 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Thomas Jefferson University

Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Indiana, Pennsylvania is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s design degrees to 24 students in 2019-2020.

IUP did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $19,197 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus

#15

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is a medium-sized school located in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania that handed out 7 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

East Stroudsburg University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for East Stroudsburg University is $17,581 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at East Stroudsburg University

#16

Seton Hill University

Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Seton Hill University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 4 degrees to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2019-2020.

Seton Hill also took the #20 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Seton Hill is $19,008 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Seton Hill University Design & Applied Arts Report

Harrisburg University of Science and Technology ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Harrisburg University of Science and Technology is located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

Harrisburg University of Science and Technology also took the #25 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Harrisburg University of Science and Technology is $14,918 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Harrisburg University of Science and Technology Design & Applied Arts Report

#18

Robert Morris University

Moon Township, Pennsylvania

Robert Morris University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 26 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2019-2020.

RMU also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $21,791 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Robert Morris University.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at RMU

#19

Drexel University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Drexel University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Drexel is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 185 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Drexel also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $27,057 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Drexel University.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Drexel Design & Applied Arts Report

#20

Mercyhurst University

Erie, Pennsylvania

Mercyhurst University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. Erie, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s design degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our pennsylvania bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $30-$48k list, Mercyhurst has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mercyhurst University is $20,744 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Mercyhurst Design & Applied Arts Report

#21

Pennsylvania College of Technology

Williamsport, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #21, Pennsylvania College of Technology did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Penn College is located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

Penn College also took the #23 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Penn College is $22,081 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Pennsylvania College of Technology

#22

Arcadia University

Glenside, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #22, Arcadia University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Arcadia is a private not-for-profit institution located in Glenside, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Arcadia also took the #17 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $24,887 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Arcadia.

The low 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%.

Full Arcadia University Design & Applied Arts Report

#23

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#16 in overall quality

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

PAFA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $20,989 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend PAFA.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Design & Applied Arts Report

#24

Moore College of Art and Design

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Moore College of Art and Design ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k 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 38 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Moore College, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Moore College of Art and Design is $34,514 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Moore College of Art and Design

#25

The University of the Arts

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The University of the Arts landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UArts is a small school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 71 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our pennsylvania bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $30-$48k list, UArts has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $37,844 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UArts.

The impressive 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 more about Design & Applied Arts at The University of the Arts

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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

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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