2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Rhode Island
[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong design & applied arts education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value design & applied arts schools.
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2027 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
Our analysis ranked Rhode Island College the best value for a degree in design & applied arts in Rhode Island. Set in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,300, compared with $27,299 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $23,394 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Rhode Island College earn a median of $45,088 early in their careers. Set against $23,394 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
New England Institute Of Technology came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of East Greenwich, New England Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $37,275. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $20,584. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from New England Institute Of Technology generally make around $26,833. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Roger Williams University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Bristol, Roger Williams University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,197. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $26,445 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Roger Williams University generally make around $48,664. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roger Williams University admits about 88% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Rhode Island School Of Design one of the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Providence, Rhode Island School Of Design is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $62,688 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $27,000. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $29,489. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 19%.
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
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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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
