2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 40 schools to find the best return on investment for design & applied arts students.
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2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in design & applied arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
Leading the list is Brigham Young University Idaho, our #1 best value for design & applied arts in the Rocky Mountains Region. Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Rexburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $13,287 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $43,853. Set against $13,287 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Salt Lake Community College earned it the #2 place for design & applied arts. Salt Lake Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. Students from in state pay about $4,426 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,244. Students borrow a median of $10,766 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Salt Lake Community College earn a median of $34,227 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Utah Valley University earned it the #3 place for design & applied arts. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. In-state tuition and fees average $6,507, while out-of-state students pay about $18,489. Students borrow a median of $14,057 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $31,888. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northwest College earned it the #4 place for design & applied arts. Northwest College is a small public school located in the town of Powell. Students from in state pay about $4,962 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,262 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,996 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Northwest College generally make around $40,014. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Red Rocks Community College earned it the #5 place for design & applied arts. Red Rocks Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lakewood. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,859, while out-of-state students pay about $17,459. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $14,471. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $76,340. Set against $14,471 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Aims Community College landed the #6 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the city of Greeley, Aims Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,258, while out-of-state students pay about $11,786. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $11,199. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $45,909. That is a strong return on a $11,199 median debt.
Latter Day Saints Business College earned the #7 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, Latter Day Saints Business College is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,004. Median earnings reach $50,630 ten years out.
Weber State University placed #8 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,557, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $21,851 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Weber State University generally make around $40,507. That is a strong return on a $21,851 median debt.
Community College Of Denver placed #9 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Denver, Community College Of Denver is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,058, while out-of-state students pay about $17,658. Students borrow a median of $18,830 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Community College Of Denver generally make around $45,202. Set against $18,830 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pikes Peak Community College landed the #10 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Pikes Peak Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Colorado Springs. Students from in state pay about $4,510 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,110. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $16,066. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $41,037. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Arapahoe Community College earned the #11 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Arapahoe Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Littleton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,434, while out-of-state students pay about $17,034. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $15,000. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Arapahoe Community College generally make around $32,100. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Front Range Community College placed #12 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,663, with out-of-state students paying around $17,263. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Front Range Community College generally make around $21,397. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pickens Technical College landed the #13 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Pickens Technical College is a small public school located in the city of Aurora. In-state tuition and fees average $5,140, while out-of-state students pay about $9,250. Students borrow a median of $10,250 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $35,622. Set against $10,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southern Utah University landed the #14 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,962, compared with $21,192 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,886 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $44,998. That is a strong return on a $12,886 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
North Idaho College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. North Idaho College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Coeur d'Alene. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,396, while out-of-state students pay about $8,736. Students borrow a median of $14,688 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $49,489. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Utah landed the #16 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,620, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $16,344. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $60,527. Set against $16,344 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver earned the #17 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,124, compared with $30,684 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,125 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Metropolitan State College Of Denver generally make around $39,450. That is a strong return on a $29,125 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Brigham Young University Provo came in at #18 for value in design & applied arts this year. Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. In-state tuition and fees average $6,688. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $33,915. Set against $13,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Boise State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,048, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $28,599. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Boise State University earn a median of $31,083 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,599 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Montana State University placed #20 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,460, with out-of-state students paying around $33,287. Students borrow a median of $18,880 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $36,931. Set against $18,880 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design landed the #21 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the suburb of Lakewood, Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,190. Students borrow a median of $46,544 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $29,829. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Denver placed #22 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,398 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,534 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Denver generally make around $31,104. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 40 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
