2027 Best Value Other Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania
[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 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 Pennsylvania
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
Leading the list is University Of Pennsylvania, our #1 best value for other design & applied arts in Pennsylvania. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $68,686. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $99,682. That is a strong return on a $16,155 median debt. University Of Pennsylvania admits about 5% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in other design & applied arts will find it at Thomas Jefferson University, which ranked #2. Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $47,355. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of Thomas Jefferson University earn a median of $36,433 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
A rank of #3 makes Carnegie Mellon University one of the best values for other design & applied arts. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Students from in state pay about $65,636 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $24,500. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $89,327. Set against $24,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Pennsylvania College Of Art And Design one of the best values for other design & applied arts. Located in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $32,150. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $27,000. 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. Pennsylvania College Of Art And Design admits about 99% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other design & applied arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus generally make around $43,324. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Drexel University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value other design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $62,412 in tuition and fees. 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. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
More Other Design & Applied Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
