2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Rhode Island
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value design & applied arts schools.
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2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Rhode Island
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in design & applied arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
Rhode Island College earned the #1 spot for value among design & applied arts schools in Rhode Island. Set in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,300, compared with $27,299 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $23,394. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Rhode Island College generally make around $45,088. That is a strong return on a $23,394 median debt. Rhode Island College admits about 92% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at New England Institute Of Technology, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of East Greenwich, New England Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,275. Students borrow a median of $20,584 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from New England Institute Of Technology generally make around $26,833. That is a strong return on a $20,584 median debt. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Roger Williams University, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Bristol, Roger Williams University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,197. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $26,445 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Roger Williams University earn a median of $48,664 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Rhode Island School Of Design is a great value for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Providence, Rhode Island School Of Design is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $62,688. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Rhode Island School Of Design generally make around $29,489. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
