2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Ohio
[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 56 schools to find the best return on investment for design & applied arts students.
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2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Ohio
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the design & applied arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
Leading the list is Cuyahoga Community College District, our #1 best value for design & applied arts in Ohio. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. Students from in state pay about $3,249 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,249. Students borrow a median of $11,795 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $22,517. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Sinclair Community College one of the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,675 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $11,000. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $24,490 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 Columbus State Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,488 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,224. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $9,041 in student loans. Median earnings reach $39,435 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $9,041 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Stark State College earned it the #4 place for design & applied arts. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,790, while out-of-state students pay about $7,886. Students borrow a median of $17,349 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Stark State College generally make around $42,724. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College one of the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the suburb of Blue Ash, University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,106, with out-of-state students paying around $15,904. Students borrow a median of $19,408 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $42,936. Set against $19,408 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lakeland Community College placed #6 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the suburb of Kirtland, Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,872, compared with $9,235 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,857 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Lakeland Community College earn a median of $51,941 early in their careers. Set against $19,857 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Owens Community College placed #7 among the best values for design & applied arts. Owens Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Perrysburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,870, with out-of-state students paying around $10,502. Students borrow a median of $19,383 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Owens Community College earn a median of $45,785 early in their careers. Set against $19,383 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Akron Main Campus earned the #8 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,135 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,815 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $39,856 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #9 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,100 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $45,176. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Cleveland State University landed the #10 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,982, while out-of-state students pay about $18,502. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $26,875 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $24,959. Set against $26,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Kent placed #11 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $26,000. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $36,351 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #12 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $26,791. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $24,716. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #13 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,912 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $35,645. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University came in at #14 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the town of Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $27,193. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $26,602 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $53,377. Set against $26,602 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #15 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $25,851. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $52,526. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Cedarville University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $37,150 in tuition and fees. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $35,768. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Miami University Oxford earned the #17 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,519, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $47,295. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Dayton came in at #18 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,140. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $25,033. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $43,609. Set against $25,033 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Dayton admits about 65% of applicants.
Columbus College Of Art And Design placed #19 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $40,825. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Columbus College Of Art And Design generally make around $27,970. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
School Of Advertising Art Inc placed #20 among the best values for design & applied arts. School Of Advertising Art Inc is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Kettering. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,914. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $5,500. Median earnings reach $42,187 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Art Academy Of Cincinnati came in at #21 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Art Academy Of Cincinnati is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,007. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $27,000. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Art Academy Of Cincinnati earn a median of $20,921 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 34%.
Cleveland Institute Of Art placed #22 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland Institute Of Art is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,700. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Cleveland Institute Of Art earn a median of $23,358 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cleveland Institute Of Art admits about 61% of applicants.
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 56 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
