Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Design & Applied Arts

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (With Aid)

101 Ranked Colleges
1,987 Degrees Awarded
$27,400 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Design Schools for a Master's For Those Getting Aid

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 36,854 people earned their degree in design and applied arts, making the major the 34th most popular in the United States. 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.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,987 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 101 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Design & Applied Arts Schools

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 for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to 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 for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (With Aid)

#1

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida
#15 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Florida. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Gainesville, Florida, this large public school handed out 8 degrees to qualified masters’s design students in 2019-2020.

UF also took the #15 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Florida are $30,130, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UF Design & Applied Arts Report

#20 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a large school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 7 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle also took the #20 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

#3

Fashion Institute of Technology

New York, New York

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Fashion Institute of Technology. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. New York, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s design degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.

FIT SUNY also took the #24 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at FIT SUNY are $24,209.

Full FIT SUNY Design & Applied Arts Report

#4

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#21 in overall quality

Out of the 101 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #4 spot on the list. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s design degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Purdue, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794.

Full Purdue Design & Applied Arts Report

#11 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Atlanta, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s design degrees to 22 students in 2019-2020.

Georgia Tech also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus are $31,334, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Georgia Tech Design & Applied Arts Report

#6

Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut

Yale University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Yale is a fairly large school located in New Haven, Connecticut that handed out 17 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Yale, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Yale are $44,500.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Yale University

#7

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#16 in overall quality

University of California - Los Angeles landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school handed out 9 diplomas to qualified masters’s design students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree design students with aid list, UCLA has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at University of California - Los Angeles

#8

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

Florida State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Florida State is a public institution located in Tallahassee, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State are $26,707.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Florida State

#9

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, this large public school awarded 19 diplomas to qualified masters’s design students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at NC State are $28,999.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at North Carolina State University

The University of Texas at Austin ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. The University of Texas at Austin is a public institution located in Austin, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UT Austin are $22,886.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at The University of Texas at Austin

University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. University of Illinois at Chicago is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 15 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of Illinois at Chicago

#12

University of Wisconsin - Stout

Menomonie, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Stout came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Menomonie, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s design degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

UW - Stout not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Stout are $16,851, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UW - Stout Design & Applied Arts Report

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s design degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

IUPUI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis are $26,013, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

#14

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#19 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s design degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #19. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

The University of Texas at Dallas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. This large school is located in Richardson, Texas, and it awarded 1 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Dallas, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Dallas are $28,610, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UT Dallas Design & Applied Arts Report

#16

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. Ferris State University is a fairly large public school situated in Big Rapids, Michigan. It awarded 8 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Ferris are $7,908, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Ferris State University

#17

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
#25 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified masters’s design students in 2019-2020.

U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at U-M

With a ranking of #18, Iowa State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Iowa State is a large school located in Ames, Iowa that handed out 24 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa State University are $25,948.

Full Iowa State Design & Applied Arts Report

#19

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Harvard University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. Harvard University is a large school located in Cambridge, Massachusetts that handed out 11 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard University are $50,654.

Full Harvard University Design & Applied Arts Report

Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Tempe, Arizona, this large public school handed out 41 diplomas to qualified masters’s design students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Arizona State University - Tempe are $27,048, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Arizona State University - Tempe

#21

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

University of Houston landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 6 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Houston are $18,689, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at UH

#22

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. San Marcos, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s design degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas State University are $17,040.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Texas State University

#23

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas

With a ranking of #23, University of North Texas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. UNT is a large school located in Denton, Texas that handed out 7 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Texas are $15,618, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of North Texas

The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. UT Chattanooga is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s design degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Chattanooga are $18,334, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at UT Chattanooga

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #25. This large school is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and it awarded 1 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree design students with aid list, OSU has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at OSU are $23,963, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Oklahoma State University - Main Campus

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