2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Arizona
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong design & applied arts education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 22 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 Arizona
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
For return on investment in design & applied arts, no school beat Pima Community College this year. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,442, with out-of-state students paying around $7,758. Students borrow a median of $10,655 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Pima Community College generally make around $40,977. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Arizona College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Coolidge. Students from in state pay about $2,250 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,500. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $11,635. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Central Arizona College generally make around $48,826. Set against $11,635 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Yavapai College one of the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Prescott, Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,948 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,486. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $14,087. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Yavapai College earn a median of $52,087 early in their careers. Set against $14,087 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Glendale Community College Glendale Az earned it the #4 place for design & applied arts. Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glendale. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $15,996. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Glendale Community College Glendale Az earn a median of $51,483 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,996 median debt.
Phoenix College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Phoenix College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $15,204 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Phoenix College generally make around $51,053. That is a strong return on a $15,204 median debt.
Mesa Community College placed #6 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $13,750. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $54,730. Set against $13,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arizona State University earned the #7 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $41,589 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Paradise Valley Community College earned the #8 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Paradise Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $14,204 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Paradise Valley Community College earn a median of $71,136 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,204 median debt.
Scottsdale Community College landed the #9 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Students borrow a median of $13,084 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Scottsdale Community College earn a median of $38,676 early in their careers. Set against $13,084 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northern Arizona University landed the #10 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,619, while out-of-state students pay about $20,044. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $23,245. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $33,964. Set against $23,245 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Arizona University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Arizona landed the #11 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $21,861 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $50,834. That is a strong return on a $21,861 median debt. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
Sessions College For Professional Design landed the #12 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Sessions College For Professional Design is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $7,400 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,199 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $19,275.
University Of Advancing Technology earned the #13 position for value in design & applied arts this year. University Of Advancing Technology is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Tempe. Students from in state pay about $18,800 in tuition and fees. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,895 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Advancing Technology generally make around $30,640. That is a strong return on a $27,895 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Bryan University Los Angeles landed the #14 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Bryan University Los Angeles is a mid-sized private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,219. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $26,400 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $31,425. That is a strong return on a $26,400 median debt.
Grand Canyon University came in at #15 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,508. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Grand Canyon University generally make around $38,976. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
