2023 Best Value Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $75-$110k) in the Rocky Mountains Region
13
Ranked Colleges
1,124
Degrees Awarded
$16,800
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 $75-$110k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Design & Applied Arts is the 36th most popular major in the country with 36,301 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. 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.
For this year’s “Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking, we looked at 13 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.
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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
One Size Does Not Fit All
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $75-$110k” list to help you make the college decision.
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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $75-$110k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $75-$110k.
Top 13 Best Value Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $75-$110k) in the Rocky Mountains Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brigham Young University - Provo. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Provo, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 95 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our rocky mountains region design students whose families make $75-$110k list, BYU has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend BYU is $15,777 for rocky mountains region design students whose families make $75-$110k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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 BYU
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Salt Lake Community College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $75-$110k. Salt Lake Community College is located in Salt Lake City, Utah and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 66 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Salt Lake Community College, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Salt Lake Community College is $9,594 for rocky mountains region design students whose families make $75-$110k.
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 #3 for the Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $75-$110k. UVU is a large public school situated in Orem, Utah. It awarded 287 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UVU, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UVU is $12,446 for rocky mountains region design students whose families make $75-$110k.
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 join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Arapahoe Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $75-$110k. Arapahoe Community College is a fairly large school located in Littleton, Colorado that handed out 59 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Arapahoe Community College also took the #4 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $13,722 for rocky mountains region design students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Arapahoe Community College.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Arapahoe Community College
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 $75-$110k list. Northwest College is a small public school situated in Powell, Wyoming. It awarded 12 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Northwest Community College also took the #13 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $8,672 for rocky mountains region design students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Northwest Community College.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Northwest Community College
University of Utah ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. University of Utah is a large public school situated in Salt Lake City, Utah. It awarded 28 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
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. It costs about $15,746 for rocky mountains region design students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend U of U.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full U of U Design & Applied Arts Report
Weber State University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Ogden, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 51 students in 2020-2021.
WSU also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Weber State University is $14,506 for Rocky Mountains Region Design students whose families make $75-$110k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Weber State University
Boise State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #8. Boise State University is located in Boise, Idaho and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 104 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our rocky mountains region design students whose families make $75-$110k list, Boise State has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $18,867 for Rocky Mountains Region Design students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Boise State.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 Boise State University Design & Applied Arts Report
Southern Utah University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Southern Utah University is a fairly large public school situated in Cedar City, Utah. It awarded 18 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our rocky mountains region design students whose families make $75-$110k list, Southern Utah University has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southern Utah University is $15,037 for Rocky Mountains Region Design students whose families make $75-$110k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Southern Utah University
Metropolitan State University of Denver did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #10. Denver, Colorado is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 56 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our rocky mountains region design students whose families make $75-$110k list, MSU Denver has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Metropolitan State University of Denver is $18,158 for rocky mountains region design students whose families make $75-$110k.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Metropolitan State University of Denver
Montana State University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Bozeman, Montana, and it awarded 16 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
MSU Bozeman also took the #10 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Montana State University is $21,940 for Rocky Mountains Region Design students whose families make $75-$110k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Montana State University
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is a small school located in Lakewood, Colorado that handed out 117 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
RMCAD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is $22,396 for rocky mountains region design students whose families make $75-$110k.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at RMCAD
With a ranking of #13, University of Denver did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Denver, Colorado is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 31 students in 2020-2021.
DU also took the #3 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $31,039 for rocky mountains region design students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend University of Denver.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Denver 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.
