2027 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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for other design & applied arts students.
What’s on this page:
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
University Of Central Florida tops our 2027 list of the best value other design & applied arts schools in the United States. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in other design & applied arts will find it at University Of Illinois At Chicago, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $25,750. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $61,829 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,750 median debt. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of Baltimore is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other design & applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, University Of Baltimore is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $23,984. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $29,681 in student loans. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $63,652. Set against $29,681 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Baltimore admits about 79% of applicants.
Fashion Institute Of Technology came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value other design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,174 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,696. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $20,692. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fashion Institute Of Technology admits about 60% of applicants.
Kansas State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value other design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $23,546 in student loans. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $43,992 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #6 for value in other design & applied arts this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $22,500. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $44,506 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Iowa State University landed the #7 spot for other design & applied arts value this year. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $35,702. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Washington University In St Louis placed #8 among the best values for other design & applied arts. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,790. Students borrow a median of $19,089 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $33,615. That is a strong return on a $19,089 median debt. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University Skysong came in at #9 for value in other design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,627, compared with $13,925 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Arizona State University Skysong generally make around $47,217. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Arizona State University Skysong admits about 67% of applicants.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #10 for value in other design & applied arts this year. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. In-state tuition and fees average $13,912, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. 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. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
Minneapolis College Of Art And Design placed #11 among the best values for other design & applied arts. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,484 in tuition and fees. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Minneapolis College Of Art And Design generally make around $23,687. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Drexel University landed the #12 spot for other design & applied arts value this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,412. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $38,154 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Drexel University admits about 79% of applicants.
Syracuse University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value other design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,528. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $46,181. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Maryland Institute College Of Art landed the #14 spot for other design & applied arts value this year. Maryland Institute College Of Art is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. In-state tuition and fees average $56,800. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $70,027. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Full Sail University earned the #15 position for value in other design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Winter Park, Full Sail University is a very large private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $26,906. Students borrow a median of $37,882 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Full Sail University generally make around $41,119. That is a strong return on a $37,882 median debt.
Otis College Of Art And Design landed the #16 spot for other design & applied arts value this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Otis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,488. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Otis College Of Art And Design generally make around $31,172. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
School Of Visual Arts earned the #17 position for value in other design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of New York, School Of Visual Arts is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,400. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from School Of Visual Arts generally make around $46,003. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
The New School earned the #18 position for value in other design & applied arts this year. The New School is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $58,730 in tuition and fees. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $23,606 in student loans. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of The New School earn a median of $39,393 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
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), 2027 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
