Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Design & Applied Arts

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $30-$48k)

100 Ranked Colleges
1,987 Degrees Awarded
$33,500 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Design Schools for a Master's For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,987 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 100 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.

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 for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k”.

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 for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k

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

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

#1

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 100 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Cornell University landed the #1 spot on the list. Cornell is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Ithaca, New York. It awarded 3 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Cornell also took the #4 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell are $30,042, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Cornell University

#2

Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Yale University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k. Yale is a private not-for-profit institution located in New Haven, Connecticut. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 17 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree design students whose families make $30-$48k list, Yale has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Yale University are $44,500.

Full Yale University Design & Applied Arts Report

#3

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k. Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Northwestern

#4

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Harvard University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k. Harvard is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It awarded 11 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard University are $50,654, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Harvard

#5

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida
#15 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Florida. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Gainesville, Florida, this large public school handed out 8 diplomas to qualified masters’s design students in 2019-2020.

UF also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #15. Average graduate tuition and fees at UF are $30,130, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at UF

#6

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana
#2 in overall quality

University of Notre Dame did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution located in Notre Dame, Indiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Notre Dame, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Notre Dame are $57,522.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of Notre Dame

#7

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts
#7 in overall quality

Northeastern University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Northeastern University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 15 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeastern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern are $25,558, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Northeastern University Design & Applied Arts Report

#8

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, and it awarded 6 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Purdue, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Purdue Design & Applied Arts Report

#25 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M also took the #25 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at U-M

#20 in overall quality

University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UW Seattle is located in Seattle, Washington and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s design degrees to qualified students.

UW Seattle also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #20. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at UW Seattle

#11 in overall quality

Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. Atlanta, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s design degrees to 22 students in 2019-2020.

Georgia Tech also took the #11 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus are $31,334, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus

#12

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, University of California - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of California - Los Angeles is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at University of California - Los Angeles

#13

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMN Twin Cities are $28,845, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at UMN Twin Cities

#14

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

Florida State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Tallahassee, Florida, this large public school awarded 6 degrees to qualified masters’s design students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State University are $26,707, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Florida State

#15

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Carnegie Mellon University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s design degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree design students whose families make $30-$48k list, Carnegie Mellon has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Carnegie Mellon University are $47,326.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Carnegie Mellon

#16

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts
#9 in overall quality

Boston University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Boston U is a large school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 21 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Boston U, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Boston University are $57,666.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Boston U

#17

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, this large public school awarded 19 diplomas to qualified masters’s design students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at NC State are $28,999.

Full NC State Design & Applied Arts Report

#18

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas

University of North Texas ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of North Texas is located in Denton, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s design degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Texas are $15,618, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at UNT

#19

Fashion Institute of Technology

New York, New York

Fashion Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #19. FIT SUNY is a public institution located in New York, New York. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 25 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

FIT SUNY did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at FIT SUNY are $24,209.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at FIT SUNY

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. This large school is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and it awarded 1 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at OSU, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at OSU are $23,963, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Design & Applied Arts Report

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 1 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

IUPUI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at IUPUI are $26,013, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at IUPUI

#22

University of Wisconsin - Stout

Menomonie, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Stout landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Menomonie, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s design degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree design students whose families make $30-$48k list, UW - Stout has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Stout are $16,851.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of Wisconsin - Stout

With a ranking of #23, Iowa State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Iowa State University is a large school located in Ames, Iowa that handed out 24 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa State University are $25,948, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Iowa State Design & Applied Arts Report

The University of Texas at Austin landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UT Austin is located in Austin, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s design degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Austin are $22,886, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UT Austin Design & Applied Arts Report

Arizona State University - Tempe came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Arizona State University - Tempe is a large public school situated in Tempe, Arizona. It awarded 41 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Arizona State University - Tempe are $27,048.

Full ASU - Tempe Design & Applied Arts Report

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.

Featured Performing Arts Schools

Find Schools Near You