2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k
24
Ranked Colleges
1,282
Degrees Awarded
$19,200
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Design & Applied Arts is the 36th most popular major in the country with 36,301 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, design and applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,426 and had an average of $25,481 in loans still to pay off.
Across Pennsylvania, there were 1,282 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,864 and $27,344 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 24 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the design and applied arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k.
Top 24 Best Value Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $30-$48k) in Pennsylvania
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. UPenn is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
UPenn also took the #3 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $1,938 for Pennsylvania Design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UPenn.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 UPenn
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Carnegie Mellon University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 69 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Carnegie Mellon, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Carnegie Mellon University is $13,608 for pennsylvania design students whose families make $30-$48k.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 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 96%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Carnegie Mellon Design & Applied Arts Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lehigh Carbon Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school awarded 25 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
LCCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Lehigh Carbon Community College is $5,095 for pennsylvania design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full LCCC Design & Applied Arts Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northampton County Area Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k. Northampton Community College is a medium-sized school located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania that handed out 28 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Northampton Community College also took the #20 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northampton Community College is $8,047 for pennsylvania design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Northampton County Area Community College Design & Applied Arts Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Harrisburg Area Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 26 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania design students whose families make $30-$48k list, HACC has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Harrisburg Area Community College is $10,425 for Pennsylvania Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at HACC
Temple University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Temple is a large school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 71 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Temple also took the #4 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $19,355 for Pennsylvania Design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Temple University.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 Temple University
California University of Pennsylvania ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. California University of Pennsylvania is a medium-sized public school situated in California, Pennsylvania. It awarded 15 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Cal U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Cal U is $16,063 for pennsylvania design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at California University of Pennsylvania
Albright College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Reading, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 31 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
Albright did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $14,822 for Pennsylvania Design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Albright College.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Albright
York College of Pennsylvania came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. York, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.
YCP not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for YCP is $18,893 for pennsylvania design students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at YCP
Marywood University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. Marywood University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 17 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Marywood not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $18,171 for Pennsylvania Design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Marywood University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Marywood University
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 72 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Kutztown University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Kutztown University is $19,255 for Pennsylvania Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Design & Applied Arts Report
Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus is a medium-sized public school situated in Indiana, Pennsylvania. It awarded 68 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania design students whose families make $30-$48k list, IUP has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus is $19,003 for pennsylvania design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full IUP Design & Applied Arts Report
La Roche University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. La Roche is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania design students whose families make $30-$48k list, La Roche has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend La Roche is $18,706 for Pennsylvania Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at La Roche
Drexel University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 205 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Drexel not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Drexel is $28,998 for pennsylvania design students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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%.
Full Drexel Design & Applied Arts Report
With a ranking of #15, Susquehanna University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 11 students in 2020-2021.
Susquehanna also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend Susquehanna University is $18,710 for Pennsylvania Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Susquehanna University
Millersville University of Pennsylvania ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Millersville is a public institution located in Millersville, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 18 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Millersville did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Millersville is $18,798 for Pennsylvania Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Mercyhurst University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Mercyhurst is located in Erie, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania design students whose families make $30-$48k list, Mercyhurst has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mercyhurst University is $23,656 for pennsylvania design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Mercyhurst Design & Applied Arts Report
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 10 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at PAFA, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $40,874 for pennsylvania design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full PAFA Design & Applied Arts Report
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Mansfield University of Pennsylvania is located in Mansfield, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
Mansfield University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Mansfield University of Pennsylvania is $8,868 for Pennsylvania Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
Robert Morris University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 34 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
RMU also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #21. It costs about $22,862 for pennsylvania design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend RMU.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at RMU
Pennsylvania College of Technology landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Pennsylvania College of Technology is a small public school situated in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. It awarded 31 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Penn College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Pennsylvania College of Technology is $22,232 for pennsylvania design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Pennsylvania College of Technology
The University of the Arts came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UArts is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 59 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania design students whose families make $30-$48k list, UArts has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UArts is $35,626 for pennsylvania design students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at The University of the Arts
Moore College of Art and Design did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #23. Moore College of Art and Design is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 46 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Moore College also took the #7 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $39,028 for Pennsylvania Design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Moore College.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Moore College of Art and Design
South Hills School of Business & Technology ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. South Hills School of Business & Technology is a small private for-profit school situated in State College, Pennsylvania. It awarded 5 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at South Hills School of Business & Technology, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $17,048 for pennsylvania design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend South Hills School of Business & Technology.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full South Hills School of Business & Technology Design & Applied Arts Report
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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
- *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.
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