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2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major

495 Ranked Colleges
7,726 Degrees Awarded
$23,288 Avg Salary
Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2021-2022, 36,323 people earned their degree in design & applied arts, making the major the 36th most popular in the United States. In , design & applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $32,210 and had an average of $24,297 in loans still to pay off.

At the associate degree level specifically, there were 7,726 design & applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,431 and $15,731 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major” ranking analyzed 495 colleges that offered a degree in design & applied arts. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their design & applied arts program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for associate degree design students.

Top 25 Most Focused Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The Modern College of Design. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major. Kettering, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associates’s design degrees to 42 students in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at The Modern College of Design

2
Interior Designers Institute crest
Interior Designers Institute
Newport Beach, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Interior Designers Institute. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major list. Interior Designers Institute is a private for-profit institution located in Newport Beach, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 30 associates’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Interior Designers Institute

3

Out of the 495 schools in the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Delaware College of Art and Design landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Wilmington, Delaware, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 13 diplomas to qualified associates’s design students in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at DCAD

4
Platt College - San Diego crest
Platt College - San Diego
San Diego, California

Out of the 495 schools in the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Platt College - San Diego landed the #4 spot on the list. Platt College - San Diego is a private for-profit institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 associates’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Platt College - San Diego Design & Applied Arts Report

5
Wade College crest
Wade College
Dallas, Texas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Wade College. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major. This small school is located in Dallas, Texas, and it awarded 15 associates’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Wade College

6

7

Sessions College for Professional Design came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. Sessions College is a private for-profit institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a small population, and it awarded 18 associates’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Sessions College for Professional Design

8

FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Los Angeles, California, this small private for-profit school handed out 237 diplomas to qualified associates’s design students in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at FIDM Los Angeles

9

With a ranking of #9, Fashion Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major list. FIT SUNY is a medium-sized public school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 684 associates’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at FIT SUNY

10

The North Coast College ranked #10 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major list. The North Coast College is a private for-profit institution located in Lakewood, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 associates’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at The North Coast College

11

New York School of Interior Design landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. This small school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 17 associates’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at New York School of Interior Design

12

With a ranking of #12, The Art Institute of Dallas did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major list. This small school is located in Dallas, Texas, and it awarded 6 associates’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at The Art Institute of Dallas

13

Stevens - The Institute of Business & Arts did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major ranking, coming in at #13. Stevens - The Institute of Business & Arts is a private for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 associates’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Stevens - The Institute of Business & Arts

14

The Art Institute of Austin landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. Ai Austin is located in Bastrop, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 16 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Ai Austin Design & Applied Arts Report

15
Arapahoe Community College crest
Arapahoe Community College
Littleton, Colorado

Arapahoe Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. Located in Littleton, Colorado, this fairly large public school awarded 48 degrees to qualified associates’s design students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Arapahoe Community College Design & Applied Arts Report

16

International Business College - Indianapolis came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associates’s design degrees to 11 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at International Business College - Indianapolis

17
Los Angeles Pacific College crest
Los Angeles Pacific College
Los Angeles, California

With a ranking of #17, Los Angeles Pacific College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major list. Los Angeles Pacific College is a small private for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 7 associates’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Los Angeles Pacific College

18

Guam Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major ranking, coming in at #18. Mangilao, Guam is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 7 students in 2021-2022.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Guam Community College

19

Delta College of Arts & Technology ranked #19 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major list. Delta College of Arts & Technology is a private for-profit institution located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 associates’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Delta College of Arts & Technology Design & Applied Arts Report

20

Bryant & Stratton College - Greece landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. Bryant & Stratton College - Greece is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Rochester, New York. It awarded 1 associates’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Bryant & Stratton College - Greece

21
Platt College - Ontario crest
Platt College - Ontario
Ontario, California

Platt College - Ontario ranked #21 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major list. Platt College - Ontario is located in Ontario, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 12 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Platt College - Ontario Design & Applied Arts Report

22
SUNY Adirondack crest
Adirondack Community College
Queensbury, New York

Adirondack Community College landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. Adirondack Community College is located in Queensbury, New York and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 21 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Adirondack Community College

23
CCV crest
Community College of Vermont
Montpelier, Vermont

With a ranking of #23, Community College of Vermont did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major list. CCV is a medium-sized school located in Montpelier, Vermont that handed out 16 associates’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Community College of Vermont

24
EDP - Humacao crest
EDP University - Humacao
Humacao, Puerto Rico

With a ranking of #24, EDP University - Humacao did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major list. EDP University - Humacao is a small school located in Humacao, Puerto Rico that handed out 0 associates’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at EDP - Humacao

25
New School University crest
The New School
New York, New York

The New School landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. Located in New York, New York, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 101 degrees to qualified associates’s design students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at The New School

Rest of the Best 50 in Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

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27
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30
Davis College crest
Davis College
Toledo, OH
31
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34
35
36
37
Harcum College crest
Harcum College
Bryn Mawr, PA
38
39
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41
Cecil College crest
Cecil College
North East, MD
42
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48
LDS Business College crest
LDS Business College
Salt Lake City, UT
49
50

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major

While not in the ’top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

RankCollegeLocation
51Spokane Falls Community CollegeSpokane, WA
52Luzerne County Community CollegeNanticoke, PA
53The Art Institute of AtlantaAtlanta, GA
54Harford Community CollegeBel Air, MD
55Montgomery CollegeRockville, MD
56Mercer County Community CollegeWest Windsor, NJ
57Salem Community CollegeCarneys Point, NJ
58Madison Area Technical CollegeMadison, WI
59Macomb Community CollegeWarren, MI
60Three Rivers Community CollegeNorwich, CT
61Pratt Institute - MainBrooklyn, NY
62Lehigh Carbon Community CollegeSchnecksville, PA
63Finger Lakes Community CollegeCanandaigua, NY
64Tunxis Community CollegeFarmington, CT
65Flathead Valley Community CollegeKalispell, MT
RankCollegeLocation
65University of Advancing TechnologyTempe, AZ
67Johnson County Community CollegeOverland Park, KS
68Monroe Community CollegeRochester, NY
69Dakota County Technical CollegeRosemount, MN
70United Tribes Technical CollegeBismarck, ND
70Housatonic Community CollegeBridgeport, CT
72Western Technical CollegeLa Crosse, WI
73The Art Institute of HoustonHouston, TX
74Oklahoma State University Institute of TechnologyOkmulgee, OK
75Nossi College of ArtNashville, TN

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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