2027 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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for design & applied arts students.
What’s on this page:
2027 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
Leading the list is Central Arizona College, our #1 best value for design & applied arts in Arizona. 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. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,635 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Central Arizona College earn a median of $48,826 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,635 median debt.
Yavapai College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Prescott. In-state tuition and fees average $2,948, while out-of-state students pay about $9,486. Students borrow a median of $14,087 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Yavapai College generally make around $52,087. Set against $14,087 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Glendale Community College Glendale Az, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Students borrow a median of $15,996 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $51,483. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Eastern Arizona College, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Thatcher, Eastern Arizona College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,352, while out-of-state students pay about $9,552. Students borrow a median of $6,781 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $40,304. That is a strong return on a $6,781 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Mesa Community College, which ranked #5. Mesa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Mesa. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Mesa Community College generally make around $54,730. Set against $13,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Phoenix College placed #6 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Phoenix, Phoenix College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,204 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Phoenix College generally make around $51,053. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Paradise Valley Community College earned the #7 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Paradise Valley Community College is a large public school located in the city of Phoenix. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,204 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Paradise Valley Community College generally make around $71,136. Set against $14,204 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Scottsdale Community College landed the #8 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. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $13,084 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $38,676. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northern Arizona University placed #9 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,619 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. 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. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University earned the #10 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $41,589. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arizona ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $21,861. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $50,834. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Sessions College For Professional Design ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Tempe, Sessions College For Professional Design is a small private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,400. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $25,199 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Sessions College For Professional Design generally make around $19,275.
Bryan University Los Angeles landed the #13 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Bryan University Los Angeles is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Tempe. In-state tuition and fees average $12,219. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $26,400. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Bryan University Los Angeles generally make around $31,425. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grand Canyon University placed #14 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit university. 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. Grand Canyon University admits about 79% of applicants.
University Of Advancing Technology earned the #15 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Tempe, University Of Advancing Technology is a small private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,800. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $27,895. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $30,640. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Advancing Technology admits about 98% of applicants.
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
View All Design & Applied Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
