2026 Best Value Other Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Other Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/design-and-applied-arts-other/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 24 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for other design & applied arts students.
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2026 Best Value Other Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
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
Cuny Queens College earned the #1 spot for value among other design & applied arts schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,538, while out-of-state students pay about $15,488. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $17,625. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $19,349. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Raritan Valley Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other design & applied arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Branchburg, Raritan Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,664 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,584 for out-of-state students. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $9,668 in student loans. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of Raritan Valley Community College earn a median of $47,248 early in their careers. Set against $9,668 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in other design & applied arts will find it at Sussex County Community College, which ranked #3. 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, compared with $9,024 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $10,750. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $27,179. That is a strong return on a $10,750 median debt.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other design & applied arts, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public school located in the suburb of Baltimore. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,256, while out-of-state students pay about $31,225. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $21,531 in student loans. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of $34,020 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,531 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Fashion Institute Of Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other design & applied arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,174, with out-of-state students paying around $22,696. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of Fashion Institute Of Technology earn a median of $20,692 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,500 median debt. Fashion Institute Of Technology admits about 60% of applicants.
Thomas Jefferson University earned the #6 position for value in other design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,355. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Thomas Jefferson University generally make around $36,433. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Thomas Jefferson University admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Pennsylvania ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value other design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,686 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $99,682. Set against $16,155 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Pennsylvania admits about 5% of applicants.
Carnegie Mellon University earned the #8 position for value in other design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,636 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $24,500. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $89,327. Set against $24,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value other design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Median earnings reach $63,435 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Drexel University landed the #10 spot for other design & applied arts value this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,412. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $38,154 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania College Of Art And Design came in at #11 for value in other design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,150. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of Pennsylvania College Of Art And Design earn a median of $25,830 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Maryland Institute College Of Art landed the #12 spot for other design & applied arts value this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Maryland Institute College Of Art is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $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 $48,637. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Syracuse University came in at #13 for value in other design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,528 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $46,181. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
The New School placed #14 among the best values for other design & applied arts. Set in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,730. Students borrow a median of $23,606 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $36,279. That is a strong return on a $23,606 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
School Of Visual Arts earned the #15 position for value in other design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of New York, School Of Visual Arts is a mid-sized private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,400. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $46,003. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
