2027 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/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 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 Massachusetts
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
Leading the list is Salem State University, our #1 best value for other design & applied arts in Massachusetts. Salem State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Salem. Students from in state pay about $12,338 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,531. Students borrow a median of $27,176 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Salem State University generally make around $49,656. That is a strong return on a $27,176 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value other design & applied arts schools. 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, compared with $32,567 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $27,000. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earn a median of $29,660 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Students looking for strong value in other design & applied arts will find it at Massachusetts College Of Art And Design, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Boston, Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $15,400 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $43,400. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $22,500. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of Massachusetts College Of Art And Design earn a median of $32,580 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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%.
A rank of #5 makes Lesley University one of the best values for other design & applied arts. Set in the city of Cambridge, Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,256. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $26,500. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $25,227. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Roughly 97% 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 · 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.
