2026 Best Value Other Design & Applied Arts Schools in Massachusetts
[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.
College Factual analyzed 9 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value other design & applied arts schools.
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2026 Best Value Other Design & Applied Arts Schools in Massachusetts
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
Our analysis ranked University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth the best value for a degree in other design & applied arts in Massachusetts. Located in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,612, compared with $32,567 for out-of-state students. 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 $54,669. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design 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 Boston, Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,400, compared with $43,400 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $24,706. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design admits about 76% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in other design & applied arts will find it at Lesley University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Cambridge, Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,256. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $25,227. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Lesley University admits about 97% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Northeastern University one of the best values for other design & applied arts. Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,162. Students borrow a median of $28,250 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of Northeastern University earn a median of $49,727 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Montserrat College Of Art is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other design & applied arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Beverly, Montserrat College Of Art is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $40,690 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $27,000. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of Montserrat College Of Art earn a median of $20,704 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
More Other Design & Applied Arts Rankings
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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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
