2027 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/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for other design & applied arts students.
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2027 Best Value Other Design & Applied Arts Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in other design & applied arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Other Design & Applied Arts Schools
Raritan Valley Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value other design & applied arts schools in the United States. Raritan Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Branchburg. In-state tuition and fees average $5,664, with out-of-state students paying around $7,584. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $9,668. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $47,248. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Sussex County Community College earned it the #2 place for other design & applied arts. Set in the rural area of Newton, Sussex County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,544, while out-of-state students pay about $9,024. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $10,750. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Sussex County Community College generally make around $27,179. Set against $10,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lakeland Community College earned it the #3 place for other design & applied arts. Set in the suburb of Kirtland, Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,872, compared with $9,235 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,857 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Lakeland Community College generally make around $51,941. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Vincennes University earned it the #4 place for other design & applied arts. Set in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,126, with out-of-state students paying around $16,858. Students borrow a median of $14,506 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of Vincennes University earn a median of $45,976 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College one of the best values for other design & applied arts. Set in the suburb of Blue Ash, University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,106, with out-of-state students paying around $15,904. Students borrow a median of $19,408 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College earn a median of $42,936 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fashion Institute Of Technology earned the #6 position for value in other design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,174, with out-of-state students paying around $22,696. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $12,000. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Fashion Institute Of Technology generally make around $14,361. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Full Sail University came in at #7 for value in other design & applied arts this year. Full Sail University is a very large private for-profit school located in the suburb of Winter Park. Students from in state pay about $26,906 in tuition and fees. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $34,679 in student loans. 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 landed the #8 spot for other design & applied arts value this year. Located in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,730. Students borrow a median of $21,211 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $44,640. That is a strong return on a $21,211 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
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 ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
