ADVERTISEMENTS
Featured Design & Applied Arts Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
AA in Digital Photography
Take the first step toward a career of visual expression and doing what you love with this online associate degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Learn More
BA in Digital Photography
Learn to create a striking portfolio and hone the skills you need to succeed in the world of professional photography with this online digital photography degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Learn More
2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in the New England Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in design & applied arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
Middlesex Community College Bedford tops our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools in the New England Region. Set in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,098 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,170. Students borrow a median of $12,755 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Middlesex Community College Bedford generally make around $48,427. Set against $12,755 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Bristol Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Fall River, Bristol Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,832, while out-of-state students pay about $10,776. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $9,482 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Bristol Community College generally make around $37,897. That is a strong return on a $9,482 median debt.
Massachusetts Bay Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts Bay Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,856, while out-of-state students pay about $10,800. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,008 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Massachusetts Bay Community College generally make around $44,553. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bunker Hill Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Boston, Bunker Hill Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,168, with out-of-state students paying around $11,112. Students borrow a median of $11,893 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Bunker Hill Community College earn a median of $51,782 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Massasoit Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Massasoit Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brockton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,376, while out-of-state students pay about $10,320. Students borrow a median of $10,894 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Massasoit Community College generally make around $42,938. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rhode Island College earned the #6 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Rhode Island College is a large public school located in the suburb of Providence. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,300, with out-of-state students paying around $27,299. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $23,394 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $45,088. Set against $23,394 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Capital Community College earned the #7 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Capital Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New Britain. In-state tuition and fees average $5,338, while out-of-state students pay about $15,596. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $12,059 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Capital Community College generally make around $43,086. Set against $12,059 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Connecticut State University earned the #8 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of New Britain, Central Connecticut State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,050, while out-of-state students pay about $16,550. Students borrow a median of $22,641 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $34,930. That is a strong return on a $22,641 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Fitchburg State University earned the #9 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Fitchburg. In-state tuition and fees average $11,346, compared with $17,426 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Fitchburg State University earn a median of $29,191 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Fitchburg State University admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,966, with out-of-state students paying around $36,264. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $41,020. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Massachusetts Lowell admits about 83% of applicants.
Community College Of Vermont earned the #11 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the rural area of Montpelier, Community College Of Vermont is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,920 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,640. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $12,125. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $34,182. Set against $12,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Keene State College came in at #12 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the town of Keene, Keene State College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,784, with out-of-state students paying around $26,840. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $25,371. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $34,947. That is a strong return on a $25,371 median debt. Keene State College admits about 90% of applicants.
Manchester Community College Nh ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Manchester, Manchester Community College Nh is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,090, while out-of-state students pay about $15,340. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,063.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth landed the #14 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,612, while out-of-state students pay about $32,567. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $29,660. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth admits about 91% of applicants.
Vermont Technical College placed #15 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the rural area of Randolph, Vermont Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,952, while out-of-state students pay about $22,296. Students borrow a median of $24,208 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $41,822. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Vermont Technical College admits about 82% of applicants.
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design earned the #16 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Boston, Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,400 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $43,400. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $24,706. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Husson University landed the #17 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Husson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bangor. Students from in state pay about $23,304 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,735 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $52,868. That is a strong return on a $27,735 median debt. Husson University admits about 81% of applicants.
Boston University came in at #18 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,102. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Boston University earn a median of $49,254 early in their careers. Set against $21,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Lasell College landed the #19 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the city of Newton, Lasell College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,040. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Lasell College generally make around $29,661. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Yale University placed #20 among the best values for design & applied arts. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. In-state tuition and fees average $67,250. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Suffolk University placed #21 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Boston, Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,550. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $27,000. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $47,415. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Suffolk University admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Hartford landed the #22 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the city of West Hartford, University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $49,075. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Hartford earn a median of $29,515 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Northeastern University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,162. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $28,250. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $49,727. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northeastern University admits about 5% of applicants.
Lesley University landed the #24 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,256. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Lesley University earn a median of $25,227 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
New England College came in at #25 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the rural area of Henniker, New England College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $27,474. Students borrow a median of $35,038 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from New England College generally make around $68,950. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New England College admits about 92% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 37 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s design & applied arts value ranking:
Narrow Design & Applied Arts Schools by State
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 · 79 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 24 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.
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
