[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 655 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for design & applied arts students.
Finding the Best Value Design & Applied Arts School for You
The design & applied arts program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we built our Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Moorpark College earned the #1 spot for value among design & applied arts schools in the United States. Set in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $17,075. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Moorpark College earn a median of $105,599 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Middlesex Community College Bedford, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,098 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,170 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $12,755 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Middlesex Community College Bedford earn a median of $48,427 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Fullerton earned it the #3 place for design & applied arts. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. In-state tuition and fees average $7,470, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $15,525. Design & Applied Arts graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $54,471 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at University Of Florida, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Students borrow a median of $19,839 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $43,144 early in their careers. Set against $19,839 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Central Piedmont Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,792 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Students borrow a median of $11,861 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $30,979 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,861 median debt.
Joliet Junior College came in at #6 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,530 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $11,995. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $40,118. Set against $11,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Monica College placed #7 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,156, compared with $10,708 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,193.
Wayne Community College placed #8 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,566, compared with $8,710 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Wayne Community College generally make around $33,116. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida State College At Jacksonville ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,657, with out-of-state students paying around $9,631. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $19,139. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Florida State College At Jacksonville earn a median of $46,748 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,139 median debt.
Canada College earned the #10 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Redwood City, Canada College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, compared with $11,384 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $106,691. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Valley College placed #11 among the best values for design & applied arts. West Valley College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $0, compared with $9,320 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $14,308 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from West Valley College generally make around $25,378. Set against $14,308 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suffolk County Community College landed the #12 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,630, with out-of-state students paying around $12,460. Students borrow a median of $9,132 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $24,907. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chattahoochee Technical College earned the #13 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Marietta. In-state tuition and fees average $3,540, compared with $6,108 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $9,616 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Chattahoochee Technical College generally make around $44,673. That is a strong return on a $9,616 median debt.
Hinds Community College earned the #14 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the rural area of Raymond, Hinds Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,250 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,300. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $16,385. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $34,003. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Canyons placed #15 among the best values for design & applied arts. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,166, while out-of-state students pay about $10,958. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $9,776. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $51,913. Set against $9,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University San Bernardino landed the #16 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,088 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,688. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $16,139. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $24,604. That is a strong return on a $16,139 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Saddleback College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,432 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,812 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,707 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Saddleback College earn a median of $15,890 early in their careers. Set against $5,707 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Metropolitan Community College Area came in at #18 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,375, with out-of-state students paying around $4,950. Students borrow a median of $12,526 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Metropolitan Community College Area generally make around $29,902. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cerritos College came in at #19 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,004. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $29,495 early in their careers. Set against $11,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The University Of Texas Pan American earned the #20 position for value in design & applied arts this year. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. In-state tuition and fees average $9,799, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,694 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $46,404. Set against $14,694 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Trident Technical College earned the #21 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,546, with out-of-state students paying around $8,620. Students borrow a median of $18,116 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Trident Technical College generally make around $50,166. Set against $18,116 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny New York City College Of Technology earned the #22 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,332 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,282. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $12,000. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Cuny New York City College Of Technology earn a median of $21,445 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
El Centro College landed the #23 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Students borrow a median of $11,835 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $31,478. That is a strong return on a $11,835 median debt.
Pasadena City College earned the #24 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, compared with $10,924 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $9,191. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $38,841. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Sequoias placed #25 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,394 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,038. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $10,288. Design & Applied Arts graduates of College Of The Sequoias earn a median of $37,749 early in their careers. Set against $10,288 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s design & applied arts value ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 655 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 655 ranked schools only.
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).
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
