by our College Data Analytics Team
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 31 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value design & applied arts schools.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in design & applied arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked Century College the best value for a degree in design & applied arts in Minnesota. Set in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,214. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Century College generally make around $41,814. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at North Hennepin Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, North Hennepin Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,061. Students borrow a median of $21,241 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from North Hennepin Community College generally make around $52,492. That is a strong return on a $21,241 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Dakota County Technical College, which ranked #3. Located in the rural area of Rosemount, Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,679. Students borrow a median of $13,474 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Dakota County Technical College generally make around $50,429. That is a strong return on a $13,474 median debt.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the rural area of Fergus Falls, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,908. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $18,197. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Minnesota State Community And Technical College earn a median of $42,972 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Rochester Community And Technical College one of the best values for design & applied arts. Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rochester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,389. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $20,291 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Rochester Community And Technical College earn a median of $47,439 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Alexandria Technical And Community College placed #6 among the best values for design & applied arts. Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Alexandria. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,236. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $12,000. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Alexandria Technical And Community College generally make around $31,830. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College landed the #7 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,161. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $18,601 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $40,230. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #8 for value in design & applied arts this year. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $42,462 early in their careers. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Saint Cloud State University landed the #9 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,245. Students borrow a median of $25,076 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $34,627. That is a strong return on a $25,076 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Minnesota State University Moorhead placed #10 among the best values for design & applied arts. Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Moorhead. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,428. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $38,587. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Duluth came in at #11 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,608, while out-of-state students pay about $20,134. Students borrow a median of $24,800 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Duluth generally make around $31,337. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Minnesota Duluth admits about 89% of applicants.
Minnesota State University Mankato placed #12 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,572, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,260 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $53,088 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,260 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Rasmussen College Minnesota ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of St. Cloud, Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,199. Students borrow a median of $32,080 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $32,364. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Minneapolis College Of Art And Design earned the #14 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Minneapolis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,484. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $23,687. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Minneapolis College Of Art And Design admits about 48% of applicants.
Dunwoody College Of Technology earned the #15 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Dunwoody College Of Technology is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $27,477 in tuition and fees. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $18,973 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Dunwoody College Of Technology earn a median of $40,302 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,973 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 31 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.