2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Maryland

[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 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 Maryland
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in design & applied arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
Montgomery College tops our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools in Maryland. Montgomery College is a very large public school located in the city of Rockville. In-state tuition and fees average $5,394, with out-of-state students paying around $14,250. Students borrow a median of $11,230 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $24,833. That is a strong return on a $11,230 median debt.
Prince Georges Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Largo, Prince Georges Community College is a large public university. 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. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Prince Georges Community College generally make around $56,960. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Harford Community College earned it the #3 place for design & applied arts. Located in the rural area of Bel Air, Harford Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,032 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,832 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $12,624 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Harford Community College earn a median of $50,636 early in their careers. Set against $12,624 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Frederick Community College earned it the #4 place for design & applied arts. Frederick Community College is a large public school located in the city of Frederick. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,849, while out-of-state students pay about $10,042. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $10,778 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $43,733. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The Community College Of Baltimore County came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of Baltimore, The Community College Of Baltimore County is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,110, while out-of-state students pay about $10,182. Students borrow a median of $18,038 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $52,440. Set against $18,038 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Maryland Eastern Shore landed the #6 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the town of Princess Anne, University Of Maryland Eastern Shore is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,076 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,122 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $26,996 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Maryland Eastern Shore generally make around $39,742. Set against $26,996 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Maryland Eastern Shore admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Baltimore earned the #7 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, University Of Baltimore is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $23,984. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $29,681 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Baltimore earn a median of $63,652 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,681 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Anne Arundel Community College placed #8 among the best values for design & applied arts. Anne Arundel Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Arnold. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,322, while out-of-state students pay about $11,522. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $13,947. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Anne Arundel Community College earn a median of $59,894 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,947 median debt.
Morgan State University came in at #9 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Morgan State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,229 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,124. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $30,309 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Morgan State University generally make around $49,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,256, compared with $31,225 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $21,531 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Maryland Baltimore County generally make around $34,020. That is a strong return on a $21,531 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Bowie State University came in at #11 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Bowie, Bowie State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,218, with out-of-state students paying around $19,938. Students borrow a median of $28,474 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Bowie State University generally make around $47,668. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Stevenson University came in at #12 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Owings Mills, Stevenson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $40,560 in tuition and fees. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Stevenson University earn a median of $27,969 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Maryland Institute College Of Art came in at #13 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Maryland Institute College Of Art is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,800. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $48,637. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Maryland Institute College Of Art admits about 77% of applicants.
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
View All Design & Applied Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.