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2023 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts

650 Ranked Colleges
19,864 Degrees Awarded
$33,771 Avg Salary
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Design Major

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 19,864 design & applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,724 and $23,030 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major” ranking, we looked at 650 colleges that offer a degree in design & applied arts. That schools that top this list have a program in design & applied arts in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Design & Applied Arts Schools

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major”.

Top 25 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts

1

Out of the 650 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwest College of Art & Design landed the #1 spot on the list. NCAD is a small school located in Tacoma, Washington that handed out 19 bachelors’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at NCAD

1
Design Institute of San Diego crest
Design Institute of San Diego
San Diego, California

Out of the 650 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Design Institute of San Diego landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in San Diego, California, this small private for-profit school handed out 26 degrees to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Design Institute of San Diego

3
Nossi College of Art crest
Nossi College of Art
Nashville, Tennessee

Out of the 650 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Nossi College of Art landed the #3 spot on the list. Nossi College of Art is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 39 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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 Nossi College of Art

4

Out of the 650 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design landed the #4 spot on the list. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a small school located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania that handed out 30 bachelors’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 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 Pennsylvania College of Art and Design

5
The Academy crest
American Academy of Art
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend American Academy of Art. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major list. The Academy is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 22 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

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%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full American Academy of Art Design & Applied Arts Report

6

Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design ranked #6 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major list. Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 124 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full MIAD Design & Applied Arts Report

7

With a ranking of #7, College for Creative Studies did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major list. Detroit, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s design degrees to 86 students in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full CCS Design & Applied Arts Report

8
LCAD crest
Laguna College of Art and Design
Laguna Beach, California

Laguna College of Art and Design came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. Laguna College of Art and Design is located in Laguna Beach, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 84 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Laguna College of Art and Design

9

With a ranking of #9, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major list. Located in Lakewood, Colorado, this small private for-profit school handed out 122 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, 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 more about Design & Applied Arts at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design

10

Columbus College of Art and Design came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. CCAD is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 123 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at CCAD

11

Art Academy of Cincinnati landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 25 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 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 Art Academy of Cincinnati

12
Otis College of Art and Design crest
Otis College of Art and Design
Los Angeles, California

Otis College of Art and Design ranked #12 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major list. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 123 bachelors’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. 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%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Otis College of Art and Design

13

Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. Located in San Juan, Puerto Rico, this small public school awarded 19 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s design 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.

Full Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico Design & Applied Arts Report

14

Cleveland Institute of Art did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major ranking, coming in at #14. CIA is located in Cleveland, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 65 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 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 CIA

15
Moore College crest
Moore College of Art and Design
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Moore College of Art and Design landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. Moore College is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 48 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 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 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Moore College of Art and Design

16

The North Coast College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. The North Coast College is a private for-profit institution located in Lakewood, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. 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%.

Full The North Coast College Design & Applied Arts Report

17
Art Center College of Design crest
Art Center College of Design
Pasadena, California

Art Center College of Design came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. Art Center College of Design is located in Pasadena, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 228 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, 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 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Art Center College of Design Design & Applied Arts Report

18

With a ranking of #18, Massachusetts College of Art and Design did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major list. Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a small public school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 110 bachelors’s design degrees 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. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Massachusetts College of Art and Design Design & Applied Arts Report

19

Minneapolis College of Art and Design ranked #19 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major list. MCAD is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 54 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full MCAD Design & Applied Arts Report

20

Ringling College of Art and Design landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. Ringling College is located in Sarasota, Florida and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 118 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Ringling College

21

The Art Institute of Austin ranked #21 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major list. This small school is located in Bastrop, Texas, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

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%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Ai Austin

22
Montserrat College of Art crest
Montserrat College of Art
Beverly, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #22, Montserrat College of Art did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major list. Montserrat College of Art is a private not-for-profit institution located in Beverly, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 31 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Montserrat College of Art

23

AI Miami International University of Art and Design landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. International Fine Arts College is a private for-profit institution located in Miami, Florida. The school has a small population, and it awarded 58 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at AI Miami International University of Art and Design

24
Kansas City Art Institute crest
Kansas City Art Institute
Kansas City, Missouri

With a ranking of #24, Kansas City Art Institute did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major list. Kansas City Art Institute is located in Kansas City, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 41 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 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 Kansas City Art Institute

25

The Art Institute of Dallas landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. This small school is located in Dallas, Texas, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 The Art Institute of Dallas

Rest of the Best 50 in Schools for a Bachelor’s 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:

26
27
28
29
Cogswell crest
Cogswell College
San Jose, CA
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
Wade College crest
Wade College
Dallas, TX
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
New School University crest
The New School
New York, NY
50
Cazenovia crest
Cazenovia College
Cazenovia, NY

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major

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

RankCollegeLocation
51The University of the ArtsPhiladelphia, PA
52Villa Maria CollegeBuffalo, NY
53Rhode Island School of DesignProvidence, RI
54William Peace UniversityRaleigh, NC
55Woodbury UniversityBurbank, CA
56University of Advancing TechnologyTempe, AZ
57FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA
58University of Wisconsin - StoutMenomonie, WI
59EDP University - San JuanSan Juan, PR
60Albright CollegeReading, PA
61Wentworth Institute of TechnologyBoston, MA
62Oklahoma Christian UniversityEdmond, OK
63Lesley UniversityCambridge, MA
64Cedarville UniversityCedarville, OH
65Meredith CollegeRaleigh, NC
RankCollegeLocation
66St. Andrews UniversityLaurinburg, NC
67Centenary UniversityHackettstown, NJ
68Clark Atlanta UniversityAtlanta, GA
69Academy of Art UniversitySan Francisco, CA
70John Brown UniversitySiloam Springs, AR
71Inter American University of Puerto Rico - FajardoFajardo, PR
72Adrian CollegeAdrian, MI
73Mount Mary UniversityMilwaukee, WI
74Berkeley College - Woodland ParkWoodland Park, NJ
75Defiance CollegeDefiance, OH
76New York City College of TechnologyBrooklyn, NY
77Kentucky Wesleyan CollegeOwensboro, KY
78Columbia College HollywoodTarzana, CA
78Hampshire CollegeAmherst, MA
80Full Sail UniversityWinter Park, FL
81Flagler College - St AugustineSaint Augustine, FL
82Lubbock Christian UniversityLubbock, TX
83Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA
84High Point UniversityHigh Point, NC
85Los Angeles Film SchoolHollywood, CA
86Taylor UniversityUpland, IN
87McPherson CollegeMcPherson, KS
88LIM CollegeNew York, NY
89FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA
90Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaKutztown, PA
RankCollegeLocation
91Chowan UniversityMurfreesboro, NC
92Eureka CollegeEureka, IL
93California Institute of the ArtsValencia, CA
94Marymount UniversityArlington, VA
95Rochester Institute of TechnologyRochester, NY
96Walla Walla UniversityCollege Place, WA
97Concord UniversityAthens, WV
98Converse CollegeSpartanburg, SC

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

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