2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 102 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value design & applied arts schools.
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2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
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
Our analysis ranked Suffolk County Community College the best value for a degree in design & applied arts in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,630 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,460. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $9,132 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $24,907 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,332, while out-of-state students pay about $15,282. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $21,445. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at County College Of Morris earned it the #3 place for design & applied arts. County College Of Morris is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Randolph. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,210, with out-of-state students paying around $14,310. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $9,420. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from County College Of Morris generally make around $30,966. That is a strong return on a $9,420 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Queens College earned it the #4 place for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,538, compared with $15,488 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $17,625 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of $19,349 early in their careers. Set against $17,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny Queens College admits about 64% of applicants.
Monroe Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Monroe Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rochester. Students from in state pay about $6,006 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,056. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $10,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Monroe Community College generally make around $27,718. Set against $10,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Burlington County College placed #6 among the best values for design & applied arts. Burlington County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Mount Laurel. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,990, while out-of-state students pay about $9,495. Students borrow a median of $12,488 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Burlington County College generally make around $52,240. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Delaware County Community College placed #7 among the best values for design & applied arts. Delaware County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Media. In-state tuition and fees average $6,930, while out-of-state students pay about $15,540. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $14,866. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Delaware County Community College earn a median of $40,102 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,866 median debt.
Cuny Laguardia Community College earned the #8 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public school located in the city of Long Island City. Students from in state pay about $5,218 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,098. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $8,858. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Cuny Laguardia Community College earn a median of $13,554 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mercer County Community College earned the #9 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the rural area of West Windsor, Mercer County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,310, while out-of-state students pay about $9,174. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $12,250. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $45,389. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Nassau Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,330, compared with $12,130 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $10,600. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Nassau Community College generally make around $18,107. That is a strong return on a $10,600 median debt.
Cuny Kingsborough Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,252 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,132. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $7,858 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Cuny Kingsborough Community College earn a median of $19,146 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Raritan Valley Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Raritan Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Branchburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,664, with out-of-state students paying around $7,584. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $9,668. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Raritan Valley Community College earn a median of $47,248 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,668 median debt.
Cuny Hostos Community College earned the #13 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Cuny Hostos Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bronx. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,254, while out-of-state students pay about $8,134. Students borrow a median of $9,007 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Cuny Hostos Community College earn a median of $12,863 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sussex County Community College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Sussex County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Newton. Students from in state pay about $5,544 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,024. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $10,750. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Sussex County Community College generally make around $27,179. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bucks County Community College earned the #15 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the rural area of Newtown, Bucks County Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,646, while out-of-state students pay about $13,926. Students borrow a median of $13,068 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $37,711. That is a strong return on a $13,068 median debt.
Bergen Community College came in at #16 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Paramus, Bergen Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,913 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,294 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $17,720 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $51,280. Set against $17,720 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mohawk Valley Community College earned the #17 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Mohawk Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Utica. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,218, compared with $8,851 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $9,534. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Mohawk Valley Community College earn a median of $21,012 early in their careers. Set against $9,534 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Prince Georges Community College came in at #18 for value in design & applied arts this year. Prince Georges Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Largo. In-state tuition and fees average $4,034, with out-of-state students paying around $8,762. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $13,949 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $56,960. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Montgomery College landed the #19 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Montgomery College is a very large public school located in the city of Rockville. Students from in state pay about $5,394 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,250 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,230 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $24,833. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Farmingdale State College landed the #20 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the suburb of Farmingdale, Farmingdale State College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,626 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,536. Students borrow a median of $18,875 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $27,827. Set against $18,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Lehigh Carbon Community College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the rural area of Schnecksville, Lehigh Carbon Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,280, compared with $13,270 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $14,450 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Lehigh Carbon Community College generally make around $27,896. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harford Community College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Harford Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Bel Air. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,032, compared with $8,832 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,624 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Harford Community College earn a median of $50,636 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,624 median debt.
The Community College Of Baltimore County earned the #23 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Baltimore, The Community College Of Baltimore County is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,110 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,182. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $18,038 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of The Community College Of Baltimore County earn a median of $52,440 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Frederick Community College earned the #24 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Frederick, Frederick Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,849 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,042 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $10,778. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Frederick Community College earn a median of $43,733 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suny College At Buffalo placed #25 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Buffalo, Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,533, with out-of-state students paying around $19,653. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $25,257. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Suny College At Buffalo earn a median of $39,412 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,257 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s design & applied arts value ranking:
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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 · 102 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 102 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.
