2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Kansas
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for design & applied arts students.
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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.
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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.
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2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Kansas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in design & applied arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
Our analysis ranked Washburn Institute Of Technology the best value for a degree in design & applied arts in Kansas. Located in the city of Topeka, Washburn Institute Of Technology is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,880. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $11,362. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Washburn Institute Of Technology generally make around $39,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Wichita State University one of the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,684 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,869 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $26,000. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $33,590. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wichita State University admits about 94% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Johnson County Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,424, compared with $5,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $13,625. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $32,030. Set against $13,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Kansas one of the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,102 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $26,000. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $37,508 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Kansas State University, which ranked #5. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $23,546. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $43,992. Set against $23,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
