by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 78 U.S. colleges awarded 1,743 degrees and certificates in Other Design & Applied Arts. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 74% of graduates. College Factual ranks 31 schools in its 2027 Best Other Design & Applied Arts Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $32,258 one year after completing, rising to $50,151 after four years.
Studying Other Design & Applied Arts explores Design And Applied Arts, Other. Any Instructional Program In Design And Applied Arts Not Listed Above.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., other design & applied arts is a widely-pursued major, with 1,743 degrees awarded annually. 78 colleges award other design & applied arts degrees, an average of 22 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 386.
By level, the 1,743 awards include 1 certificates, 111 associate degrees, 1,290 bachelor’s degrees, 327 master’s degrees and 14 doctorates.
Women earned 67% of other design & applied arts degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,160 of 1,743). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (646) and Hispanic or Latino (361), and international students earned 116.
College Factual ranks 31 schools in its 2027 Best Other Design & Applied Arts Schools ranking, including 4 for associate degrees, 27 for bachelor’s degrees and 11 for master’s degrees. It also ranks other design & applied arts schools within 12 states. In all, 78 colleges offer other design & applied arts programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Other Design & Applied Arts Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
How long an other design & applied arts degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 111 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,290 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 327 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 14 |
Other Design & Applied Arts has 9 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 38,163 degrees a year; the largest are Graphic Design (10,828), Design and Visual Communications, General (6,817) and Interior Design (5,801). Browse all Visual & Performing Arts majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Graphic Design | 10,828 |
| Design and Visual Communications, General | 6,817 |
| Interior Design | 5,801 |
| Fashion/Apparel Design | 3,254 |
| Illustration | 3,183 |
| Commercial and Advertising Art | 3,106 |
| Game and Interactive Media Design | 2,975 |
| Industrial and Product Design | 1,433 |
| Commercial Photography | 766 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
