2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Connecticut

[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for design & applied arts students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Connecticut
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
Leading the list is Capital Community College, our #1 best value for design & applied arts in Connecticut. Located in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,338, with out-of-state students paying around $15,596. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $12,059 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Capital Community College earn a median of $43,086 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,059 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central Connecticut State University earned it the #2 place for design & applied arts. Central Connecticut State University is a large public school located in the suburb of New Britain. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,050, with out-of-state students paying around $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Yale University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,250 in tuition and fees. 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. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Hartford one of the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of West Hartford, University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $49,075. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Hartford generally make around $29,515. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Hartford admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of New Haven came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of West Haven. Students from in state pay about $47,332 in tuition and fees. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of New Haven generally make around $26,425. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Quinnipiac University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Hamden, Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $55,480 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $26,976. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $35,884. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.