2023 Best Value Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in Pennsylvania (With Aid)
24
Ranked Colleges
1,282
Degrees Awarded
$24,000
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that 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.
For this year’s “Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 24 colleges that offer a degree in design and applied arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great design and applied arts programs and cost less that 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank Design & Applied Arts Schools
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 in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid” 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. 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 Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid.
Top 24 Best Value Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in Pennsylvania (With Aid)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lehigh Carbon Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. LCCC is located in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at LCCC, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend LCCC is $6,897 for Pennsylvania Design students with aid.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Lehigh Carbon Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northampton County Area Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Northampton County Area Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It awarded 28 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Northampton Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Northampton County Area Community College is $9,162 for Pennsylvania Design students with aid.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Northampton Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Harrisburg Area Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Harrisburg Area Community College is a public institution located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 26 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
HACC also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #19. The yearly cost to attend HACC is $11,608 for Pennsylvania Design students with aid.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Harrisburg Area Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Carnegie Mellon University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 69 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania design students with aid list, Carnegie Mellon has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Carnegie Mellon is $36,775 for Pennsylvania Design students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
Full Carnegie Mellon University Design & Applied Arts Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 6 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UPenn, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Pennsylvania is $25,046 for Pennsylvania Design students with aid.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at UPenn
Temple University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this large public school awarded 71 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Temple, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Temple University is $23,888 for pennsylvania design students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Temple
California University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. California University of Pennsylvania is a medium-sized public school situated in California, Pennsylvania. It awarded 15 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania design students with aid list, Cal U has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $19,117 for pennsylvania design students with aid per year to attend Cal U.
Full California University of Pennsylvania Design & Applied Arts Report
With a ranking of #8, Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Indiana, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school awarded 68 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
IUP not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $22,828 for Pennsylvania Design students with aid per year to attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus
Albright College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Reading, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 31 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
Albright also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $19,427 for Pennsylvania Design students with aid per year to attend Albright College.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Albright College
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school awarded 72 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
Kutztown University also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend Kutztown University of Pennsylvania is $23,227 for Pennsylvania Design students with aid.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Kutztown University
Marywood University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. Marywood is a small school located in Scranton, Pennsylvania that handed out 17 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Marywood, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Marywood is $20,225 for Pennsylvania Design students with aid.
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
Millersville University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. Millersville, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 18 students in 2020-2021.
Millersville not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Millersville is $23,133 for pennsylvania design students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Millersville University of Pennsylvania
York College of Pennsylvania landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. YCP is a private not-for-profit institution located in York, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees 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 yearly cost to attend York College of Pennsylvania is $22,233 for Pennsylvania Design students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full York College of Pennsylvania Design & Applied Arts Report
La Roche University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. La Roche is a small school located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that handed out 14 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
La Roche also took the #15 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for La Roche is $21,892 for Pennsylvania Design students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at La Roche University
Mercyhurst University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid 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.
Mercyhurst not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $27,283 for Pennsylvania Design students with aid per year to attend Mercyhurst University.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Mercyhurst
With a ranking of #16, Mansfield University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Mansfield, Pennsylvania, this small public school awarded 7 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
Mansfield University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $11,793 for Pennsylvania Design students with aid per year to attend Mansfield University.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Mansfield University
Pennsylvania College of Technology ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Pennsylvania College of Technology is a small school located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania that handed out 31 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Penn College also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #22. It costs about $25,181 for pennsylvania design students with aid per year to attend Penn College.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Pennsylvania College of Technology
Susquehanna University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Susquehanna University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. It awarded 11 ’s design degrees 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 $25,396 for pennsylvania design students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.
Full Susquehanna Design & Applied Arts Report
With a ranking of #19, Drexel University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 205 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Drexel did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $35,963 for Pennsylvania Design students with aid per year to attend Drexel.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Drexel
Robert Morris University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. Moon Township, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 34 students in 2020-2021.
RMU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Robert Morris University is $27,954 for Pennsylvania Design students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full RMU Design & Applied Arts Report
With a ranking of #21, Moore College of Art and Design did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 46 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania design students with aid list, Moore College has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $37,439 for Pennsylvania Design students with aid per year to attend Moore College.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Moore College
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. This small school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 10 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
PAFA also took the #11 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $42,767 for pennsylvania design students with aid per year to attend PAFA.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full PAFA Design & Applied Arts Report
The University of the Arts ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 59 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
UArts also took the #5 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $39,564 for pennsylvania design students with aid per year to attend UArts.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. 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 The University of the Arts
South Hills School of Business & Technology landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. South Hills School of Business & Technology is located in State College, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
South Hills School of Business & Technology also took the #24 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend South Hills School of Business & Technology is $18,366 for Pennsylvania Design students with aid.
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.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at South Hills School of Business & Technology
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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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