2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong design & applied arts education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 184 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 the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in design & applied arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
Suffolk County Community College earned the #1 spot for value among design & applied arts schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. 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. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $9,132 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $24,907 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Lehman College earned it the #2 place for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,410, while out-of-state students pay about $15,360. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $13,213 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $54,729. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Cuny Queens College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,538 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,488. Students borrow a median of $17,625 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of $19,349 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Queens College admits about 64% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Nassau Community College earned it the #4 place for design & applied arts. Nassau Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Garden City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,330, while out-of-state students pay about $12,130. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $10,600 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Nassau Community College generally make around $18,107. 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 Burlington County College, which ranked #5. Burlington County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Mount Laurel. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,990, compared with $9,495 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $12,488 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Burlington County College generally make around $52,240. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Monroe Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Monroe Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,006 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,056. Students borrow a median of $10,250 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Monroe Community College earn a median of $27,718 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,250 median debt.
County College Of Morris came in at #7 for value in design & applied arts this year. County College Of Morris is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Randolph. Students from in state pay about $6,210 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,310. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $9,420 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of County College Of Morris earn a median of $30,966 early in their careers. Set against $9,420 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mercer County Community College landed the #8 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the rural area of West Windsor, Mercer County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,310 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,174 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $12,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Mercer County Community College generally make around $45,389. That is a strong return on a $12,250 median debt.
Cuny New York City College Of Technology came in at #9 for value in design & applied arts this year. Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,332, with out-of-state students paying around $15,282. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $12,000. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $21,445. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Kingsborough Community College landed the #10 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,252, while out-of-state students pay about $8,132. Students borrow a median of $7,858 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Cuny Kingsborough Community College generally make around $19,146. That is a strong return on a $7,858 median debt.
Montgomery College earned the #11 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Montgomery College is a very large public school located in the city of Rockville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,394, while out-of-state students pay about $14,250. Students borrow a median of $11,230 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Montgomery College generally make around $24,833. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Raritan Valley Community College came in at #12 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the rural area of Branchburg, Raritan Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,664, compared with $7,584 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $9,668 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $47,248. That is a strong return on a $9,668 median debt.
Delaware County Community College placed #13 among the best values for design & applied arts. Delaware County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Media. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,930, compared with $15,540 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $14,866. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Delaware County Community College generally make around $40,102. That is a strong return on a $14,866 median debt.
Cuny Laguardia Community College earned the #14 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,218 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,098. Students borrow a median of $8,858 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $13,554. Set against $8,858 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny Hostos Community College placed #15 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Hostos Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,254, with out-of-state students paying around $8,134. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $9,007. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Cuny Hostos Community College earn a median of $12,863 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The Community College Of Baltimore County landed the #16 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the suburb of Baltimore, The Community College Of Baltimore County is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,110, compared with $10,182 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $18,038. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from The Community College Of Baltimore County generally make around $52,440. Set against $18,038 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Farmingdale State College placed #17 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the suburb of Farmingdale, Farmingdale State College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,626, compared with $18,536 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $18,875. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Farmingdale State College earn a median of $27,827 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Bergen Community College earned the #18 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Bergen Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Paramus. Students from in state pay about $4,913 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,294 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $17,720 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $51,280. That is a strong return on a $17,720 median debt.
Sussex County Community College came in at #19 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the rural area of Newton, Sussex County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,544, while out-of-state students pay about $9,024. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $10,750. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Sussex County Community College generally make around $27,179. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bucks County Community College came in at #20 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the rural area of Newtown, Bucks County Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,646 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,926 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $13,068. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $37,711. Set against $13,068 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mohawk Valley Community College landed the #21 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the city of Utica, Mohawk Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,218, with out-of-state students paying around $8,851. Students borrow a median of $9,534 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Mohawk Valley Community College generally make around $21,012. Set against $9,534 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Brookdale Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Lincroft, Brookdale Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,270, while out-of-state students pay about $10,140. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $12,651 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Brookdale Community College earn a median of $37,374 early in their careers. Set against $12,651 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rockland Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of Suffern, Rockland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,862. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,167 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $41,799. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Community College Of Allegheny County landed the #24 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Community College Of Allegheny County is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,956, with out-of-state students paying around $12,583. Students borrow a median of $15,263 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $47,420. That is a strong return on a $15,263 median debt.
Suny Westchester Community College earned the #25 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Valhalla, Suny Westchester Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,948, compared with $12,486 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $8,764. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Suny Westchester Community College generally make around $57,520. Set against $8,764 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for design & applied arts this year:
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More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 184 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 67 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.
