Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Design & Applied Arts

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k

16 Ranked Colleges
678 Degrees Awarded
$21,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor's in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

Design & Applied Arts is the 34th most popular major in the country with 36,854 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, design and applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $29,542 and had an average of $27,114 in loans still to pay off.

Across Massachusetts, there were 920 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,353 and $27,205 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 678 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,887 and $24,387 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 16 colleges that offered a degree in design and applied arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality design and applied arts programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the design and applied arts program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 16 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Massachusetts

#1

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northeastern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s design degrees to 49 students in 2019-2020.

Northeastern also took the #2 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northeastern University is $10,239 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Northeastern University

#2

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Boston University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Boston U is located in Boston, Massachusetts and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

Boston U also took the #1 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $12,903 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Boston University.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Boston University

#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Massachusetts - Lowell. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k. UMass Lowell is a fairly large school located in Lowell, Massachusetts that handed out 26 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMass Lowell, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Massachusetts - Lowell is $11,560 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of Massachusetts - Lowell

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Massachusetts College of Art and Design. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k. This small school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 154 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Massachusetts College of Art and Design also took the #6 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $18,422 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Massachusetts College of Art and Design

#5

Salem State University

Salem, Massachusetts
#12 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Salem State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Salem State is a medium-sized school located in Salem, Massachusetts that handed out 18 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Salem State also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $14,593 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Salem State.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Salem State

#6

University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth

North Dartmouth, Massachusetts

University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth is a medium-sized public school situated in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts. It awarded 42 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

UMass Dartmouth did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The yearly cost to attend UMass Dartmouth is $13,925 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full UMass Dartmouth Design & Applied Arts Report

#7

Framingham State University

Framingham, Massachusetts
#14 in overall quality

Framingham State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Framingham State is a small public school situated in Framingham, Massachusetts. It awarded 1 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Framingham State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The yearly cost to attend Framingham State University is $14,612 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Framingham State University

#8

Stonehill College

Easton, Massachusetts

Stonehill College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Stonehill College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Easton, Massachusetts. It awarded 11 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Stonehill also took the #5 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $22,284 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Stonehill.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Stonehill Design & Applied Arts Report

#9

Emmanuel College Massachusetts

Boston, Massachusetts

Emmanuel College Massachusetts came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Emmanuel College Massachusetts is a small school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 10 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $0-$30k list, Emmanuel Boston has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $24,411 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Emmanuel Boston.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Emmanuel College Massachusetts Design & Applied Arts Report

#10

Endicott College

Beverly, Massachusetts

Endicott College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Beverly, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 35 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2019-2020.

Endicott did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The estimated yearly cost for Endicott is $27,432 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Endicott College

#11

Lasell University

Newton, Massachusetts

Lasell University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Newton, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 36 degrees to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2019-2020.

Lasell also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #13. The yearly cost to attend Lasell University is $23,873 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Lasell

#12

Wentworth Institute of Technology

Boston, Massachusetts

Wentworth Institute of Technology landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s design degrees to 59 students in 2019-2020.

WIT not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The yearly cost to attend Wentworth Institute of Technology is $30,875 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at WIT

#13

Suffolk University

Boston, Massachusetts

Suffolk University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 29 degrees to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2019-2020.

Suffolk also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Suffolk University is $27,748 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Suffolk University

#14

Curry College

Milton, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #14, Curry College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Curry is located in Milton, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our massachusetts bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $0-$30k list, Curry has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Curry College is $23,906 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Curry

#15

Lesley University

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Lesley University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Lesley University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It awarded 67 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Lesley also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $29,108 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lesley University.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Lesley University

#16

Montserrat College of Art

Beverly, Massachusetts

Montserrat College of Art landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Beverly, Massachusetts, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $0-$30k list, Montserrat College of Art has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $30,376 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Montserrat College of Art.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Montserrat College of Art

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Featured Performing Arts Schools

Find Schools Near You