2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major
1,086
Ranked Colleges
36,301
Degrees Awarded
$41,000
Avg Cost*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major” ranking.
In 2020-2021, 36,301 people earned their degree in design and applied arts, making the major the 36th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, design and applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,426 and had an average of $25,481 in loans still to pay off.
For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major” ranking, we looked at 1,086 colleges that offer a degree in design and applied arts. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in design and applied arts.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
One Size Does Not Fit All
The design school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major”.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Schools Highly Focused on Design Major
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major”.
Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Design & Applied Arts
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Design Institute of San Diego. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major. Design Institute of San Diego is a small private for-profit school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 18 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Design Institute of San Diego Design & Applied Arts Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The Modern College of Design. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major. The Modern College of Design is a small private for-profit school situated in Kettering, Ohio. It awarded 70 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at The Modern College of Design
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwest College of Art & Design. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major list. NCAD is a small school located in Poulsbo, Washington that handed out 14 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at NCAD
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Nossi College of Art. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major list. This small school is located in Madison, Tennessee, and it awarded 42 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Nossi College of Art
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Interior Designers Institute. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major list. This small school is located in Newport Beach, California, and it awarded 51 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Interior Designers Institute Design & Applied Arts Report
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 45 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Design & Applied Arts Report
American Academy of Art landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. American Academy of Art is a small private for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 25 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at The Academy
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major list. This small school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 106 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at MIAD
College for Creative Studies ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major list. College for Creative Studies is located in Detroit, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 165 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full College for Creative Studies Design & Applied Arts Report
The North Coast College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. Lakewood, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full The North Coast College Design & Applied Arts Report
Laguna College of Art and Design landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. This small school is located in Laguna Beach, California, and it awarded 100 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full LCAD Design & Applied Arts Report
New York School of Interior Design did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major ranking, coming in at #12. NYSID is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 157 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at NYSID
Wade College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. Wade College is located in Dallas, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 32 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full Wade College Design & Applied Arts Report
Otis College of Art and Design ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major list. Otis College of Art and Design is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 129 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full Otis College of Art and Design Design & Applied Arts Report
With a ranking of #15, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major list. This small school is located in Lakewood, Colorado, and it awarded 117 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design Design & Applied Arts Report
With a ranking of #16, Maryland Institute College of Art did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major list. This small school is located in Baltimore, Maryland, and it awarded 334 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Maryland Institute College of Art
With a ranking of #17, Columbus College of Art and Design did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major list. Columbus College of Art and Design is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 119 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full Columbus College of Art and Design Design & Applied Arts Report
Art Academy of Cincinnati did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major ranking, coming in at #18. This small school is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and it awarded 15 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full AAC Design & Applied Arts Report
Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico ranked #19 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major list. This small school is located in San Juan, , and it awarded 38 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at EAPD
With a ranking of #20, Cleveland Institute of Art did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major list. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 66 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at CIA
Art Center College of Design ranked #21 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major list. Located in Pasadena, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 276 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Art Center College of Design
With a ranking of #22, Moore College of Art and Design did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major list. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 46 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Moore College of Art and Design
With a ranking of #24, Delaware College of Art and Design did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major list. This small school is located in Wilmington, Delaware, and it awarded 17 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Delaware College of Art and Design
Pratt Institute - Main did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major ranking, coming in at #25. Pratt Institute - Main is a medium-sized school located in Brooklyn, New York that handed out 618 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Pratt Institute