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2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major

133 Ranked Colleges
1,931 Degrees Awarded
$52,263 Avg Salary
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on Design Major

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for a Master’s 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.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,931 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,425 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major” ranking, we looked at 133 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

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree design students.

Top 25 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Maryland Institute College of Art. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 180 degrees to qualified masters’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 4.1% 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 MICA

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend New York School of Interior Design. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major list. Located in New York, New York, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 48 degrees to qualified masters’s design students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full New York School of Interior Design Design & Applied Arts Report

3
Carnbrook Academy crest
Cranbrook Academy of Art
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Cranbrook Academy of Art. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major. Located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 16 degrees to qualified masters’s design students in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 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 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Cranbrook Academy of Art

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Atlantic University College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major list. Guaynabo, is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s design degrees to 39 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Atlantic University College

5
Pratt Institute crest
Pratt Institute - Main
Brooklyn, New York

Out of the 133 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Pratt Institute - Main landed the #5 spot on the list. Pratt Institute - Main is a medium-sized school located in Brooklyn, New York that handed out 180 masters’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Pratt Institute - Main

6
VCFA crest
Vermont College of Fine Arts
Montpelier, Vermont

Vermont College of Fine Arts landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. VCFA is located in Montpelier, Vermont and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 masters’s design degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at VCFA

7

With a ranking of #7, Savannah College of Art and Design did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major list. SCAD is located in Savannah, Georgia and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 245 masters’s design degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Savannah College of Art and Design

8

With a ranking of #8, AI Miami International University of Art and Design did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major list. International Fine Arts College is a small school located in Miami, Florida that handed out 15 masters’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at AI Miami International University of Art and Design

9
Otis College of Art and Design crest
Otis College of Art and Design
Los Angeles, California

Otis College of Art and Design did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major ranking, coming in at #9. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 15 masters’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 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 2.1% 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 more about Design & Applied Arts at Otis College of Art and Design

10
California College of the Arts crest
California College of the Arts
San Francisco, California

California College of the Arts ranked #10 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major list. This small school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 25 masters’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at California College of the Arts

11

Pacific Northwest College of Art did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Portland, Oregon, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 7 degrees to qualified masters’s design students in 2020-2021.

Full Pacific Northwest College of Art Design & Applied Arts Report

12
Academy of Art University crest
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, California

Academy of Art University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major ranking, coming in at #12. Academy of Art University is located in San Francisco, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 77 masters’s design degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Academy of Art University

13
Art Center College of Design crest
Art Center College of Design
Pasadena, California

Art Center College of Design came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. Art Center College of Design is located in Pasadena, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 24 masters’s design degrees to qualified students.

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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Art Center College of Design

14

With a ranking of #14, College for Creative Studies did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major list. CCS is a small school located in Detroit, Michigan that handed out 10 masters’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 full report on Design & Applied Arts at College for Creative Studies

15
LCAD crest
Laguna College of Art and Design
Laguna Beach, California

Laguna College of Art and Design came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. This small school is located in Laguna Beach, California, and it awarded 6 masters’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Laguna College of Art and Design

16
SVA crest
School of Visual Arts
New York, New York

With a ranking of #16, School of Visual Arts did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major list. School of Visual Arts is a private for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 34 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at SVA

17

Minneapolis College of Art and Design landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s design degrees to 4 students 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 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full MCAD Design & Applied Arts Report

18
Marymount crest
Marymount University
Arlington, Virginia

Marymount University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major ranking, coming in at #18. Marymount University is a small school located in Arlington, Virginia that handed out 24 masters’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Marymount

19
New School University crest
The New School
New York, New York

The New School landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. Located in New York, New York, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 50 diplomas to qualified masters’s design students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at New School University

20

School of the Art Institute of Chicago ranked #20 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major list. School of the Art Institute of Chicago is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 15 masters’s design degrees 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.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at School of the Art Institute of Chicago

21
UB crest
University of Baltimore
Baltimore, Maryland

University of Baltimore ranked #21 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major list. Baltimore, Maryland is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s design degrees to 20 students in 2020-2021.

Full UB Design & Applied Arts Report

22
Full Sail University crest
Full Sail University
Winter Park, Florida

With a ranking of #22, Full Sail University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major list. Located in Winter Park, Florida, this large private for-profit school awarded 70 diplomas to qualified masters’s design students in 2020-2021.

Full Full Sail University Design & Applied Arts Report

23
Furman crest
Furman University
Greenville, South Carolina

With a ranking of #23, Furman University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major list. Furman is located in Greenville, South Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9 masters’s design degrees to qualified students.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 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 2.2% 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 Furman University

24
New York Film Academy crest
New York Film Academy
Burbank, California

New York Film Academy ranked #24 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major list. Burbank, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out masters’s design degrees to 6 students 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 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full New York Film Academy Design & Applied Arts Report

25

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Design Major ranking. Bowling Green State University - Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Bowling Green, Ohio. It awarded 32 masters’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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