2026 Best Value Other Design & Applied Arts Master’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. 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.
What’s on this page:
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
Leading the list is University Of Central Florida, our #1 best value for other design & applied arts in the United States. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,620 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $51,790. Set against $21,620 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Chicago is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other design & applied arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $61,829. That is a strong return on a $25,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas At Austin earned it the #3 place for other design & applied arts. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $44,506. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Virginia Commonwealth University earned it the #4 place for other design & applied arts. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,720, compared with $39,884 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $25,937. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $46,439. Set against $25,937 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Bowling Green State University Main Campus one of the best values for other design & applied arts. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,912, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $35,645 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Washington University In St Louis came in at #6 for value in other design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,790. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $19,089 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $33,615. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Fashion Institute Of Technology earned the #7 position for value in other design & applied arts this year. Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,174, with out-of-state students paying around $22,696. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Fashion Institute Of Technology generally make around $20,692. That is a strong return on a $18,500 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University Skysong landed the #8 spot for other design & applied arts value this year. Arizona State University Skysong is a very large public school located in the city of Scottsdale. In-state tuition and fees average $11,627, compared with $13,925 for out-of-state students. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $23,742 in student loans. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $47,217. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%.
University Of Oregon earned the #9 position for value in other design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,320, with out-of-state students paying around $42,516. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $29,050. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Oregon generally make around $28,844. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Northeastern University came in at #10 for value in other design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,162. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $28,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $49,727. That is a strong return on a $28,250 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
College For Creative Studies came in at #11 for value in other design & applied arts this year. College For Creative Studies is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Detroit. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,350. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of College For Creative Studies earn a median of $32,665 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Maryland Institute College Of Art placed #12 among the best values for other design & applied arts. Set in the city of Baltimore, Maryland Institute College Of Art is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,800. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Maryland Institute College Of Art generally make around $70,027. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Full Sail University placed #13 among the best values for other design & applied arts. Full Sail University is a very large private for-profit school located in the suburb of Winter Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,906. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $37,882. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Full Sail University generally make around $41,119. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Syracuse University placed #14 among the best values for other design & applied arts. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,528. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $46,181. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Syracuse University admits about 46% of applicants.
Pacific Northwest College Of Art came in at #15 for value in other design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Portland, Pacific Northwest College Of Art is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,006. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $26,899 in student loans. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $19,501. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Pacific Northwest College Of Art admits about 75% of applicants.
The New School landed the #16 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,730. Students borrow a median of $23,606 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from The New School generally make around $39,393. Set against $23,606 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
School Of Visual Arts ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value other design & applied arts schools. School Of Visual Arts is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $51,400. 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 $46,003. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Other Other Design & Applied Arts Degree Levels
Explore the best-value other design & applied arts schools at other degree levels:
View All Other Design & Applied Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, 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 13 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.
