2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Indiana
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong design & applied arts education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for design & applied arts students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Indiana
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the design & applied arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
Purdue University Main Campus tops our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools in Indiana. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $44,602. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Ivy Tech Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,710 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $26,602 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Vincennes University one of the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,126, with out-of-state students paying around $16,858. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $14,506. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Vincennes University generally make around $45,976. That is a strong return on a $14,506 median debt.
Ball State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,082, with out-of-state students paying around $29,630. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $36,864. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,532 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,887 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne generally make around $27,517. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Indiana University Bloomington ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,144 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $21,064 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $26,421. That is a strong return on a $21,064 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Taylor University placed #7 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the rural area of Upland, Taylor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,490. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $31,921. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Taylor University admits about 74% of applicants.
University Of Notre Dame ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,025. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $20,250. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $46,825. Set against $20,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
View All Design & Applied Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
