2026 Best Value Other Design & Applied Arts Associate’s Degree Schools
[Other Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/design-and-applied-arts-other/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 102 schools to find the best return on investment for other design & applied arts students.
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2026 Best Value Other Design & Applied Arts Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the other design & applied arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Other Design & Applied Arts Schools
Our analysis ranked Raritan Valley Community College the best value for a degree in other design & applied arts in the United States. Located in the rural area of Branchburg, Raritan Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,664, compared with $7,584 for out-of-state students. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $9,668 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Raritan Valley Community College generally make around $47,248. Set against $9,668 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value other design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Blue Ash, University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,106, compared with $15,904 for out-of-state students. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $19,408 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College generally make around $42,936. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sussex County Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value other design & applied arts schools. Set in the rural area of Newton, Sussex County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,544, while out-of-state students pay about $9,024. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $10,750 in student loans. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of Sussex County Community College earn a median of $27,179 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Vincennes University one of the best values for other design & applied arts. Vincennes University is a very large public school located in the town of Vincennes. Students from in state pay about $7,126 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,858 for out-of-state students. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $14,506 in student loans. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $45,976. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lakeland Community College earned it the #5 place for other design & applied arts. Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirtland. Students from in state pay about $3,872 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,235. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $19,857 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Lakeland Community College generally make around $51,941. Set against $19,857 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fashion Institute Of Technology placed #6 among the best values for other design & applied arts. Set in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,174, with out-of-state students paying around $22,696. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $14,361. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania College Of Art And Design ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value other design & applied arts schools. Pennsylvania College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lancaster. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,150. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $25,830. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Full Sail University landed the #8 spot for other design & applied arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Winter Park, Full Sail University is a very large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,906. Students borrow a median of $34,679 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of Full Sail University earn a median of $23,719 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $34,679 median debt.
The New School placed #9 among the best values for other design & applied arts. Located in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,730. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $21,211. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from The New School generally make around $44,640. That is a strong return on a $21,211 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Other Other Design & Applied Arts Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Other Design & Applied Arts rankings across degree levels:
View All Other Design & Applied Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 102 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
