2027 Best Value Other Design & Applied Arts Schools in the New England Region

[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 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for other design & applied arts students.
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2027 Best Value Other Design & Applied Arts Schools in the New England Region
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
Salem State University tops our 2027 list of the best value other design & applied arts schools in the New England Region. Located in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,338, compared with $19,531 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $27,176. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Salem State University generally make around $49,656. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in other design & applied arts will find it at University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,612, while out-of-state students pay about $32,567. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earn a median of $29,660 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Massachusetts College Of Art And Design earned it the #3 place for other design & applied arts. Located in the city of Boston, Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,400, compared with $43,400 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $22,500. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $32,580. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design admits about 76% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northeastern University earned it the #4 place for other design & applied arts. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Northeastern University admits about 5% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Lesley University one of the best values for other design & applied arts. Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. In-state tuition and fees average $34,256. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of Lesley University earn a median of $25,227 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lesley University admits about 97% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.