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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts

97 Ranked Colleges
1,987 Degrees Awarded
$19,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Design Schools for a Master's

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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.

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” ranking looked at 97 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in design and applied arts. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent design and applied arts programs, but they also 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. 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 Master’s” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s

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

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts

#1

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ferris State University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s. Ferris State University is a fairly large school located in Big Rapids, Michigan that handed out 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.

Full Ferris State University Design & Applied Arts Report

#2

Endicott College

Beverly, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Endicott College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s. Beverly, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s design degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Endicott are $12,666, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Endicott College

#3

Marywood University

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Out of the 97 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Marywood University landed the #3 spot on the list. Marywood University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It awarded 11 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Marywood University are $11,438, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Marywood Design & Applied Arts Report

#4

Liberty University

Lynchburg, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Liberty University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 45 degrees to qualified masters’s design students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Liberty University are $8,349, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Liberty University

#5

John Brown University

Siloam Springs, Arkansas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend John Brown University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s. JBU is a small school located in Siloam Springs, Arkansas that handed out 6 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at John Brown University are $13,920, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at JBU

Arizona State University - Skysong came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s ranking. Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, this large public school awarded 24 diplomas to qualified masters’s design students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Arizona State University - Skysong are $6,724, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at ASU - Skysong

Iowa State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s list. Iowa State is a large school located in Ames, Iowa that handed out 24 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa State are $25,948, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Iowa State University

University of North Texas ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s list. UNT is located in Denton, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s design degrees to qualified students.

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

Full University of North Texas Design & Applied Arts Report

The University of Texas at Austin landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s ranking. Located in Austin, Texas, this large public school awarded 6 degrees to qualified masters’s design students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Austin are $22,886, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#10

Mississippi College

Clinton, Mississippi

Mississippi College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s ranking. Clinton, Mississippi is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s design degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Mississippi College are $12,322.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Mississippi College

#11

Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Thomas Jefferson University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #11. Thomas Jefferson University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 19 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Thomas Jefferson University are $21,978, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Thomas Jefferson University Design & Applied Arts Report

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s list. Bowling Green State University - Main Campus is located in Bowling Green, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 masters’s design degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at BGSU are $15,823.

Full Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Design & Applied Arts Report

#13

Clemson University

Clemson, South Carolina

Clemson University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #13. Clemson University is a large public school situated in Clemson, South Carolina. It awarded 10 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Clemson are $23,246, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Clemson

#14

Marymount University

Arlington, Virginia

Marymount University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #14. Marymount is a small school located in Arlington, Virginia that handed out 16 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Marymount are $20,116, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Marymount Design & Applied Arts Report

#15

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#19 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s ranking. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #19. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMN Twin Cities are $28,845, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#16

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#21 in overall quality

Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s ranking. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, this large public school awarded 6 degrees to qualified masters’s design students in 2019-2020.

Purdue also took the #21 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University - Main Campus are $28,794, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

University of Central Oklahoma did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #16. UCO is a fairly large school located in Edmond, Oklahoma that handed out 4 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UCO are $17,913, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of Central Oklahoma

#18

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

With a ranking of #18, University of Houston did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s list. University of Houston is located in Houston, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s design degrees to qualified students.

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

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of Houston

#19

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #19. Located in San Marcos, Texas, this large public school handed out 7 degrees 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 Texas State University are $17,040.

Full Texas State University Design & Applied Arts Report

#20

Fashion Institute of Technology

New York, New York

Fashion Institute of Technology landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s ranking. FIT SUNY is located in New York, New York and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 25 masters’s design degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our master’s degree design students list, FIT SUNY has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at FIT SUNY are $24,209, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Fashion Institute of Technology

#20

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida
#15 in overall quality

University of Florida did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #20. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 8 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

UF also took the #15 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 University of Florida are $30,130.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at UF

#22

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts
#7 in overall quality

Northeastern University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s ranking. Northeastern is a large school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 15 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeastern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern are $25,558, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Northeastern University Design & Applied Arts Report

#23

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s ranking. Located in Lawrence, Kansas, this large public school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s design students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at KU are $25,007, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at KU

Massachusetts College of Art and Design landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s ranking. Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a small school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 6 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Massachusetts College of Art and Design are $24,000, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Massachusetts College of Art and Design Design & Applied Arts Report

#24

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown, Pennsylvania

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #24. This medium-sized school is located in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 3 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania are $16,300, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Kutztown University Design & Applied Arts Report

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.

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