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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $48-$75k)

101 Ranked Colleges
1,987 Degrees Awarded
$33,700 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Design Schools for a Master's For Those Making $48-$75k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 $48-$75k” 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 $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 101 colleges that offer a degree in design and applied arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality design and applied arts programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the design and applied arts program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Design & Applied Arts Schools

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 Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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 $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $48-$75k)

#1

Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Yale University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Yale is a fairly large school located in New Haven, Connecticut that handed out 17 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree design students whose families make $48-$75k 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 are $44,500.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Yale University

#2

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 101 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Cornell University landed the #2 spot on the list. Cornell is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ithaca, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Cornell also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell University are $30,042, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Cornell University

#3

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Out of the 101 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Harvard University landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 11 degrees to qualified masters’s design students in 2019-2020.

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

Full Harvard University Design & Applied Arts Report

#4

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

Out of the 101 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 3 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

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

Full Northwestern University Design & Applied Arts Report

#5

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida
#15 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Florida. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k. University of Florida is a large school located in Gainesville, Florida that handed out 8 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

UF not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Florida are $30,130, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of Florida

#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 $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Notre Dame, Indiana, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 2 degrees to qualified masters’s design students in 2019-2020.

Notre Dame did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Notre Dame are $57,522, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Notre Dame

#7

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#21 in overall quality

Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #7. Purdue is a large school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 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.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Purdue University - Main Campus

#20 in overall quality

University of Washington - Seattle Campus ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Seattle, Washington, this large public school handed out 7 degrees to qualified masters’s design students in 2019-2020.

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 some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

#11 in overall quality

Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Georgia Tech is a large public school situated in Atlanta, Georgia. It awarded 22 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Georgia Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Georgia Tech are $31,334, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus Design & Applied Arts Report

#10

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
#25 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 3 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree design students whose families make $48-$75k list, U-M has also earned the #25 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 U-M are $49,548.

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

#11

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, University of California - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s design degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree design students whose families make $48-$75k list, UCLA has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at UCLA

#12

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. UMN Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s design degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our master’s degree design students whose families make $48-$75k list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMN Twin Cities are $28,845, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UMN Twin Cities Design & Applied Arts Report

#13

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

Florida State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Florida State is a large school located in Tallahassee, Florida that handed out 6 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

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

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Florida State

#14

Fashion Institute of Technology

New York, New York

Fashion Institute of Technology ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. FIT SUNY is located in New York, New York and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 25 masters’s design degrees to qualified students.

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

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Fashion Institute of Technology

The University of Texas at Austin came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UT Austin is a public institution located in Austin, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Austin are $22,886.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at UT Austin

#16

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. North Carolina State University is a large public school situated in Raleigh, North Carolina. It awarded 19 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 North Carolina State University are $28,999.

Full NC State Design & Applied Arts Report

#17

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts
#7 in overall quality

Northeastern University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #17. This large school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and 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. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern are $25,558.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Northeastern University

#18

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts
#9 in overall quality

Boston University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Boston University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 21 masters’s 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. Average graduate tuition and fees at Boston U are $57,666, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Boston U

#19

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Carnegie Mellon University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 28 diplomas to qualified masters’s design students 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 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 are $47,326.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Carnegie Mellon

Iowa State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Ames, Iowa, this large public school handed out 24 degrees to qualified masters’s design students in 2019-2020.

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

Full Iowa State University Design & Applied Arts Report

#21

University of Delaware

Newark, Delaware

With a ranking of #21, University of Delaware did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Newark, Delaware, and it awarded 9 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Delaware are $35,192, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at University of Delaware

University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UIC is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 15 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 University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at University of Illinois at Chicago

#23

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

University of Houston landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Houston is located in Houston, 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 University of Houston are $18,689, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at University of Houston

#24

University of Wisconsin - Stout

Menomonie, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Stout landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k 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.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Stout, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Stout are $16,851, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#25

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

With a ranking of #25, Texas State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Texas State is a large school located in San Marcos, Texas that handed out 7 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas State University are $17,040, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Texas State

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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