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2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Maine

[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong design & applied arts education at a price that pays off.

College Factual analyzed 3 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value design & applied arts schools.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Maine

2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Maine

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in design & applied arts, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools

1

Husson University
Bangor, ME

$23,304 In-State Tuition & Fees

$27,735 Avg Student Debt

$45,025 Median Earnings (10yr)

Husson University earned the #1 spot for value among design & applied arts schools in Maine. Set in the city of Bangor, Husson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,304. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $27,735. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Husson University generally make around $52,868. Set against $27,735 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.

2

Maine College Of Art
Portland, ME

$42,942 In-State Tuition & Fees

$27,000 Avg Student Debt

$40,778 Median Earnings (10yr)

Maine College Of Art came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Portland, Maine College Of Art is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,942. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $27,000. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Maine College Of Art earn a median of $29,001 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.

View All Design & Applied Arts Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 3 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.