2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Massachusetts
[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.
College Factual analyzed 22 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value design & applied arts schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Massachusetts
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
Middlesex Community College Bedford tops our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools in Massachusetts. Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public school located in the suburb of Bedford. In-state tuition and fees average $6,098, while out-of-state students pay about $12,170. Students borrow a median of $12,755 to complete the design & applied arts program here. 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.
A rank of #2 makes Springfield Technical Community College one of the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Springfield, Springfield Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,904 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,112 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,707 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $42,457. Set against $9,707 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Massachusetts Bay Community College earned it the #3 place for design & applied arts. Massachusetts Bay Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Wellesley Hills. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,856, compared with $10,800 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,008 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $44,553. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bunker Hill Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Bunker Hill Community College is a large public school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $6,168 in tuition and fees, 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Fitchburg State University earned it the #5 place for design & applied arts. Set in the suburb of Fitchburg, Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,346, compared with $17,426 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 $29,191. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Fitchburg State University admits about 87% of applicants.
Holyoke Community College earned the #6 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Holyoke Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Holyoke. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,988, with out-of-state students paying around $10,932. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $9,763 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Holyoke Community College earn a median of $43,423 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Salem State University ranked #7 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. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,176 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $49,656. Set against $27,176 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell landed the #8 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,966, with out-of-state students paying around $36,264. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Lowell generally make around $41,020. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Massachusetts Lowell admits about 83% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #9 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. In-state tuition and fees average $17,772, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. Students borrow a median of $25,195 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $53,666 early in their careers. Set against $25,195 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth landed the #10 spot for design & applied arts value this year. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of North Dartmouth. Students from in state pay about $15,612 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,567. 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. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth admits about 91% of applicants.
Boston University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $49,254. That is a strong return on a $21,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design landed the #12 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $15,400 in tuition and fees, 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Emmanuel College Massachusetts earned the #13 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Boston, Emmanuel College Massachusetts is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $48,550. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Emmanuel College Massachusetts earn a median of $32,413 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Emmanuel College Massachusetts admits about 76% of applicants.
Lasell College placed #14 among the best values for design & applied arts. Lasell College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Newton. In-state tuition and fees average $27,040. 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%.
Assumption College earned the #15 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Worcester, Assumption College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,356. Students borrow a median of $26,995 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $28,032. That is a strong return on a $26,995 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Suffolk University placed #16 among the best values for design & applied arts. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Wheaton College Massachusetts placed #17 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the suburb of Norton, Wheaton College Massachusetts is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $63,960. Students borrow a median of $26,117 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Wheaton College Massachusetts generally make around $32,920. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Northeastern University came in at #18 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $66,162 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,250 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Northeastern University earn a median of $49,727 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,250 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Lesley University placed #19 among the best values for design & applied arts. Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. In-state tuition and fees average $34,256. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $25,227. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Wentworth Institute Of Technology came in at #20 for value in design & applied arts this year. Wentworth Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. In-state tuition and fees average $42,884. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $50,599. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wentworth Institute Of Technology admits about 91% of applicants.
Montserrat College Of Art came in at #21 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Beverly, Montserrat College Of Art is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,690. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Montserrat College Of Art generally make around $19,865. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Worcester, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $60,765. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $26,259. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $91,834. That is a strong return on a $26,259 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
View All Design & Applied Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 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.
