2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k
14
Ranked Colleges
1,124
Degrees Awarded
$11,600
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
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 the Rocky Mountains region, there were 1,124 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,459 and $32,125 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 14 colleges that offered 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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 in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. 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 the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for rocky mountains region design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 14 Best Value Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brigham Young University - Provo. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Provo, Utah, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 95 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
BYU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Brigham Young University - Provo is $10,333 for rocky mountains region design students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Brigham Young University - Provo Design & Applied Arts Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Arapahoe Community College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Arapahoe Community College is located in Littleton, Colorado and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 59 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
Arapahoe Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. It costs about $8,004 for rocky mountains region design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Arapahoe Community College.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Arapahoe Community College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Salt Lake Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and it awarded 66 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Salt Lake Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Salt Lake Community College is $5,780 for Rocky Mountains Region Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Salt Lake Community College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Utah Valley University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Orem, Utah, and it awarded 287 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
UVU also took the #7 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $9,992 for rocky mountains region design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UVU.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UVU Design & Applied Arts Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwest College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northwest Community College is located in Powell, Wyoming and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 12 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
Northwest Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northwest College is $6,137 for Rocky Mountains Region Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Northwest College Design & Applied Arts Report
With a ranking of #6, University of Utah did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. U of U is located in Salt Lake City, Utah and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 28 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
U of U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for U of U is $11,823 for rocky mountains region design students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Full U of U Design & Applied Arts Report
LDS Business College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Salt Lake City, Utah is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 35 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at LDS Business College, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend LDS Business College is $8,763 for rocky mountains region design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full LDS Business College Design & Applied Arts Report
With a ranking of #8, Weber State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. WSU is located in Ogden, Utah and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 51 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
WSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. It costs about $10,173 for Rocky Mountains Region Design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Weber State University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Weber State University Design & Applied Arts Report
Boise State University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Boise, Idaho, and it awarded 104 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Boise State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Boise State University is $13,582 for Rocky Mountains Region Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 more about Design & Applied Arts at Boise State
Metropolitan State University of Denver landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Denver, Colorado, this fairly large public school awarded 56 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
MSU Denver also took the #12 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend MSU Denver is $11,884 for Rocky Mountains Region Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at MSU Denver
Southern Utah University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. This fairly large school is located in Cedar City, Utah, and it awarded 18 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Southern Utah University also took the #14 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southern Utah University is $10,697 for Rocky Mountains Region Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% 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 Southern Utah University
Montana State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. Montana State University is a public institution located in Bozeman, Montana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our rocky mountains region design students whose families make $30-$48k list, MSU Bozeman has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Montana State University is $16,779 for rocky mountains region design students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad 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 MSU Bozeman Design & Applied Arts Report
University of Denver landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Denver, Colorado, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 31 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
DU also took the #3 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for DU is $21,285 for rocky mountains region design students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at DU
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. RMCAD is a small private for-profit school situated in Lakewood, Colorado. It awarded 117 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
RMCAD also took the #5 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is $17,616 for Rocky Mountains Region Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at RMCAD
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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.
