2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in the New England Region
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 39 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for design & applied arts students.
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2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in the New England 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
For return on investment in design & applied arts, no school beat Middlesex Community College Bedford this year. Located in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,098, compared with $12,170 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $12,755 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Middlesex Community College Bedford earn a median of $48,427 early in their careers. Set against $12,755 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Springfield Technical Community College earned it the #2 place for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Springfield, Springfield Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,904, while out-of-state students pay about $11,112. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $9,707. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Springfield Technical Community College generally make around $42,457. Set against $9,707 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Massachusetts Bay Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts Bay Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,856 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,800 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $11,008. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $44,553. Set against $11,008 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Bunker Hill Community College one of the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Boston, Bunker Hill Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,168, while out-of-state students pay about $11,112. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,893 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Bunker Hill Community College earn a median of $51,782 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,893 median debt.
Rhode Island College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,300 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,299 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $23,394. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $45,088. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rhode Island College admits about 92% of applicants.
Capital Community College placed #6 among the best values for design & applied arts. Capital Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New Britain. In-state tuition and fees average $5,338, while out-of-state students pay about $15,596. Students borrow a median of $12,059 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Capital Community College generally make around $43,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fitchburg State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Fitchburg. Students from in state pay about $11,346 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,426. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Fitchburg State University generally make around $29,191. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Fitchburg State University admits about 87% of applicants.
Holyoke Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the rural area of Holyoke, Holyoke Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,988, compared with $10,932 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $9,763. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Holyoke Community College generally make around $43,423. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,966, compared with $36,264 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $23,000. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Lowell generally make around $41,020. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Salem State University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,338, compared with $19,531 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $27,176. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Salem State University earn a median of $49,656 early in their careers. Set against $27,176 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Salem State University admits about 96% of applicants.
Central Connecticut State University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of New Britain, Central Connecticut State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,050, while out-of-state students pay about $16,550. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $22,641. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Central Connecticut State University earn a median of $34,930 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,641 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Community College Of Vermont placed #12 among the best values for design & applied arts. Community College Of Vermont is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Montpelier. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,920, with out-of-state students paying around $13,640. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $12,125. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Community College Of Vermont generally make around $34,182. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Keene State College placed #13 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the town of Keene, Keene State College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,784, with out-of-state students paying around $26,840. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $25,371 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $34,947. That is a strong return on a $25,371 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $25,195 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $53,666. Set against $25,195 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth landed the #15 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,612, compared with $32,567 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $29,660. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Boston University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,102. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Boston University earn a median of $49,254 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,250 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Yale University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,250. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $14,357. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $74,578. Set against $14,357 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Husson University earned the #18 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Husson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bangor. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,304. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $27,735. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $52,868. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Husson University admits about 81% of applicants.
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Boston. In-state tuition and fees average $15,400, compared with $43,400 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Massachusetts College Of Art And Design earn a median of $24,706 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design admits about 76% of applicants.
Emmanuel College Massachusetts came in at #20 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Boston, Emmanuel College Massachusetts is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,550. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $32,413. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Emmanuel College Massachusetts admits about 76% of applicants.
Lasell College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Newton, Lasell College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $27,040 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $29,661. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
New England College landed the #22 spot for design & applied arts value this year. New England College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Henniker. Students from in state pay about $27,474 in tuition and fees. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $35,038 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $68,950. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Suffolk University came in at #23 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Boston, Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,550. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $27,000. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $47,415. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Suffolk University admits about 82% of applicants.
Assumption College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Worcester, Assumption College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $51,356 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $26,995. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $28,032. Set against $26,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Assumption College admits about 83% of applicants.
Wheaton College Massachusetts came in at #25 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Norton, Wheaton College Massachusetts is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $63,960 in tuition and fees. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $26,117 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $32,920. Set against $26,117 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 39 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for design & applied arts this year:
Narrow Design & Applied Arts Schools by State
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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 · 39 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 39 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.
