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2022 Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Getting Aid

13 Ranked Colleges
684 Degrees Awarded
$18,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 Washington For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 Washington, there were 684 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,042 and $26,172 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 13 colleges that offer a degree in design and applied arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great design and applied arts programs and 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

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 Washington For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Getting Aid.

Top 13 Best Value Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in Washington (With Aid)

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Getting Aid. Seattle, Washington is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 51 students in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle also took the #1 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Washington” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus is $13,297 for washington design students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

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

#2

Clover Park Technical College

Lakewood, Washington

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Clover Park Technical College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Getting Aid list. Clover Park Technical College is located in Lakewood, Washington and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 36 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CPTC, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Washington” ranking. The yearly cost to attend CPTC is $7,904 for Washington Design students with aid.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at CPTC

#3

Spokane Falls Community College

Spokane, Washington

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Spokane Falls Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Getting Aid list. Spokane Falls Community College is a small public school situated in Spokane, Washington. It awarded 37 ’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Spokane Falls Community College, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Washington” ranking. It costs about $6,763 for Washington Design students with aid per year to attend Spokane Falls Community College.

Full Spokane Falls Community College Design & Applied Arts Report

#4

Bellevue College

Bellevue, Washington

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Bellevue College landed the #4 spot on the list. Bellevue College is a fairly large public school situated in Bellevue, Washington. It awarded 67 ’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at BC, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Washington” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Bellevue College is $7,870 for Washington Design students with aid.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at BC

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Lake Washington Institute of Technology. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Getting Aid. LWTech is a public institution located in Kirkland, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 21 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

LWTech also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Washington” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend Lake Washington Institute of Technology is $7,713 for Washington Design students with aid.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at LWTech

#6

Western Washington University

Bellingham, Washington

Western Washington University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Getting Aid ranking. Bellingham, Washington is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 66 students in 2019-2020.

WWU also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Washington” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for Western Washington University is $16,529 for washington design students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at WWU

#7

Washington State University

Pullman, Washington

With a ranking of #7, Washington State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Getting Aid list. Pullman, Washington is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 34 students in 2019-2020.

Wazzu not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Washington” list. The yearly cost to attend Washington State University is $16,358 for Washington Design students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Wazzu Design & Applied Arts Report

#8

Central Washington University

Ellensburg, Washington

Central Washington University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Getting Aid ranking. CWU is a fairly large public school situated in Ellensburg, Washington. It awarded 27 ’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

CWU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Washington” list. The estimated yearly cost for CWU is $15,397 for washington design students with aid.

Full Central Washington University Design & Applied Arts Report

#9

Seattle Pacific University

Seattle, Washington

Seattle Pacific University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. SPU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Seattle, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 33 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SPU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Washington” list. The estimated yearly cost for Seattle Pacific University is $26,505 for Washington Design students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Seattle Pacific University Design & Applied Arts Report

#10

Whitworth University

Spokane, Washington

Whitworth University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Whitworth University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Spokane, Washington. It awarded 8 ’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Whitworth, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Washington” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Whitworth is $25,557 for Washington Design students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Whitworth

#11

Seattle University

Seattle, Washington

Seattle University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Getting Aid ranking. Seattle, Washington is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 32 students in 2019-2020.

Seattle U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Washington” list. The estimated yearly cost for Seattle U is $34,802 for Washington Design students with aid.

The 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. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Seattle U

#12

Northwest College of Art & Design

Poulsbo, Washington
#13 in overall quality

Northwest College of Art & Design landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Getting Aid ranking. Northwest College of Art & Design is a small private for-profit school situated in Poulsbo, Washington. It awarded 20 ’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

NCAD also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Washington” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for Northwest College of Art & Design is $19,480 for Washington Design students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 NCAD Design & Applied Arts Report

#13

Cornish College of the Arts

Seattle, Washington

Cornish College of the Arts came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in Washington For Those Getting Aid ranking. Cornish College of the Arts is located in Seattle, Washington and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 33 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cornish College of the Arts, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Washington” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cornish College of the Arts is $39,078 for washington design students with aid.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Cornish College of the Arts

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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