2027 Best Design & Applied Arts Associate’s Degree Schools
Design & Applied Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 231 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best design & applied arts schools.
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Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in the United States
Below are the best design & applied arts schools at the associate’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Top Schools in Design & Applied Arts
County College Of Morris tops our 2027 ranking of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Randolph, County College Of Morris is a moderately-sized public university. About 17 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at County College Of Morris in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from County College Of Morris generally make around $30,966. Typical student debt for the program is $9,420.
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Collin County Community College District is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of McKinney. Collin County Community College District awarded about 120 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Collin County Community College District earn around $33,456 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $6,900 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Collin County Community College District
Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at Fashion Institute Of Technology, which ranked #3. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of New York. There were roughly 882 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Fashion Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Fashion Institute Of Technology earn around $14,361 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
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College Of Dupage came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. There were roughly 49 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at College Of Dupage in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $31,463 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,653.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from College Of Dupage
Madison Area Technical College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in design & applied arts, ranking #5. Set in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a large public institution. There were roughly 62 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Madison Area Technical College in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Madison Area Technical College earn a median of $30,710 early in their careers. Madison Area Technical College graduates carry a median of $15,750 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Madison Area Technical College
Bellevue College placed #6 among the best design & applied arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Bellevue. There were roughly 33 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Bellevue College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $45,947 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $33,660.
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Cuny New York City College Of Technology placed #7 among the best design & applied arts schools. Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Cuny New York City College Of Technology graduates 21% of students within six years. About 99 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Cuny New York City College Of Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $21,445 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Cuny New York City College Of Technology
Weber State University landed the #8 spot for design & applied arts this year. Weber State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ogden. Weber State University graduates 47% of students within six years. Weber State University awarded about 32 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $40,507 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,851.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Weber State University
Palm Beach State College landed the #9 spot for design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a very large public university. Palm Beach State College awarded about 15 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Palm Beach State College earn a median of $36,768 early in their careers. Palm Beach State College graduates carry a median of $12,518 in student loans.
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The New School ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit university. The New School graduates 70% of students within six years. The New School awarded about 398 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $44,640 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,211.
See the full design & applied arts program report for The New School
Kirkwood Community College earned the #11 position for design & applied arts this year. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Kirkwood Community College awarded about 27 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Kirkwood Community College generally make around $32,116. Kirkwood Community College graduates carry a median of $10,519 in student loans.
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Scottsdale Community College came in at #12 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a large public institution. About 67 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Scottsdale Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Scottsdale Community College generally make around $38,676. Scottsdale Community College graduates carry a median of $13,084 in student loans.
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Johnson County Community College landed the #13 spot for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public university. About 63 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Johnson County Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Johnson County Community College generally make around $32,030. Johnson County Community College graduates carry a median of $13,625 in student loans.
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Alexandria Technical And Community College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the town of Alexandria, Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 28 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Alexandria Technical And Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $31,830 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Alexandria Technical And Community College
New England Institute Of Technology earned the #15 position for design & applied arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of East Greenwich. New England Institute Of Technology awarded about 45 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $26,282 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for New England Institute Of Technology
Dakota County Technical College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the rural area of Rosemount, Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 34 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Dakota County Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Dakota County Technical College generally make around $50,429. Students borrow a median of $13,474 to complete this degree.
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Middlesex Community College Bedford placed #17 among the best design & applied arts schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Bedford. About 19 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Middlesex Community College Bedford in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Middlesex Community College Bedford earn a median of $48,427 early in their careers. Middlesex Community College Bedford graduates carry a median of $12,755 in student loans.
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Bergen Community College came in at #18 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Paramus, Bergen Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 45 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Bergen Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Bergen Community College generally make around $51,280. Bergen Community College graduates carry a median of $17,720 in student loans.
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Fox Valley Technical College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Fox Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton. Fox Valley Technical College awarded about 25 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $32,673 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,582 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Fox Valley Technical College
Mesa Community College placed #20 among the best design & applied arts schools. Mesa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Mesa. About 55 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Mesa Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Mesa Community College generally make around $54,730. Mesa Community College graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Mesa Community College
Santa Rosa Junior College placed #21 among the best design & applied arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Rosa. About 25 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $80,047 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete this degree.
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Harper College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Palatine. About 26 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Harper College in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Harper College earn a median of $44,523 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,963.
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Forsyth Technical Community College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Winston-Salem. About 20 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Forsyth Technical Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Forsyth Technical Community College generally make around $29,715. Forsyth Technical Community College graduates carry a median of $16,374 in student loans.
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Chippewa Valley Technical College came in at #24 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public university. Chippewa Valley Technical College awarded about 23 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Chippewa Valley Technical College earn around $45,531 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,234.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Chippewa Valley Technical College
Suffolk County Community College earned the #25 position for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Selden. About 42 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Suffolk County Community College in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $24,907 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,132 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Suffolk County Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Design & Applied Arts Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong design & applied arts education:
Honorable Mentions
These schools earned honorable mentions for design & applied arts:
- #51 — Diablo Valley College · Pleasant Hill, CA
- #52 — Delaware County Community College · Media, PA
- #53 — Portland Community College · Portland, OR
- #54 — Century College · White Bear Lake, MN
- #55 — Miami Dade College · Miami, FL
- #56 — Nassau Community College · Garden City, NY
- #57 — El Centro College · Dallas, TX
- #58 — Gateway Technical College · Kenosha, WI
- #59 — Oklahoma City Community College · Oklahoma City, OK
- #60 — North Hennepin Community College · Brooklyn Park, MN
Other Design & Applied Arts Degree Levels
Explore the best design & applied arts schools at other degree levels:
View All Design & Applied Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 231 schools evaluated.
- 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.
