by our College Data Analytics TeamFor its 2024 ranking, College Factual looked at 102 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for design & applied arts students pursuing a associate degree. Combined, these schools handed out 8,050 associate degrees in design & applied arts to qualified students.
What's on this page: * Our Methodology
The design associate degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality design program can vary widely even among the top schools. When choosing a school we recommend considering some of the following factors:
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To take this into account we consider a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a host of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of associate graduates during the early years of their career. This is because one of the main reasons people pursue their associate degree is to enable themselves to find better-paying positions.
The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.
Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for design & applied arts students working on their associate degree.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Take the first step toward a career of visual expression and doing what you love with this online associate degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing an associate degree in design & applied arts. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.
It is hard to beat The New School if you wish to pursue an associate degree in design & applied arts. Located in the city of New York, New School University is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.
Those design & applied arts students who get their associate degree from The New School receive $22,757 more than the standard design student.
More information about a associate in design & applied arts from The New School
It's difficult to beat FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles if you wish to pursue an associate degree in design & applied arts. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, FIDM Los Angeles is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
Those design & applied arts students who get their associate degree from FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles receive $2,318 more than the average design grad.
More information about a associate in design & applied arts from FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles
Any student who is interested in an associate degree in design & applied arts needs to check out Fashion Institute of Technology. FIT SUNY is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of New York.
Students who graduate with their associate from the design program report average early career income of $18,128.
More information about a associate in design & applied arts from Fashion Institute of Technology
Every student pursuing a degree in an associate degree in design & applied arts has to look into Madison Area Technical College. Madison College is a large public college located in the city of Madison.
Those design & applied arts students who get their associate degree from Madison Area Technical College make $8,642 more than the standard design graduate.
More information about a associate in design & applied arts from Madison Area Technical College
Located in the medium-sized suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Associate recipients from the design & applied arts degree program at Collin County Community College District make $8,044 above the typical college graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.
More information about a associate in design & applied arts from Collin County Community College District
Pratt Institute is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn.More information about a associate in design & applied arts from Pratt Institute - Main
UVU is a fairly large public university located in the city of Orem.More information about a associate in design & applied arts from Utah Valley University
Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a public college with a very large student population.
Design & Applied Arts associate degree recipients from Austin Community College District receive an earnings boost of about $3,732 above the average income of design & applied arts graduates.
More information about a associate in design & applied arts from Austin Community College District
Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a public college with a very large student population.
Associate students who receive their degree from the design program make an average of $19,732 for their early career.
More information about a associate in design & applied arts from El Centro College
Century College is a moderately-sized public college located in the suburb of White Bear Lake.More information about a associate in design & applied arts from Century College
JCCC is a fairly large public college located in the midsize city of Overland Park.
Associate recipients from the design & applied arts program at Johnson County Community College make $5,026 more than the typical college grad in this field shortly after graduation.
More information about a associate in design & applied arts from Johnson County Community College
Located in the large suburb of Rochester, RIT is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.More information about a associate in design & applied arts from Rochester Institute of Technology
ATCC is a small public college located in the town of Alexandria.
Associate recipients from the design & applied arts program at Alexandria Technical & Community College make $8,561 above the standard graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.
More information about a associate in design & applied arts from Alexandria Technical & Community College
Located in the city of Milwaukee, MATC is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Those design & applied arts students who get their associate degree from Milwaukee Area Technical College receive $7,476 more than the average design student.
More information about a associate in design & applied arts from Milwaukee Area Technical College
Located in the large suburb of Pewaukee, WCTC is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Design & Applied Arts associate degree recipients from Waukesha County Technical College get an earnings boost of around $9,699 over the typical income of design & applied arts majors.
More information about a associate in design & applied arts from Waukesha County Technical CollegeThese are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Wake Technical Community College | Raleigh, NC |
| 17 | Salt Lake Community College | Salt Lake City, UT |
| 18 | Sinclair Community College | Dayton, OH |
| 19 | Des Moines Area Community College | Ankeny, IA |
| 20 | Metropolitan Community College | Omaha, NE |
| 21 | New England Institute of Technology | East Greenwich, RI |
| 22 | Academy of Art University | San Francisco, CA |
| 23 | Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte, NC |
| 24 | Arapahoe Community College | Littleton, CO |
| 25 | Scottsdale Community College | Scottsdale, AZ |
View the Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
Design & Applied Arts is one of 10 different types of Visual & Performing Arts programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Graphic Design | 1,915 |
| Commercial & Advertising Art | 1,540 |
| Interior Design | 1,486 |
| Visual Communications | 1,060 |
| Fashion Design | 897 |
| Game & Interactive Media Design | 439 |
| Commercial Photography | 338 |
| Illustration | 248 |
| Other Design & Applied Arts | 97 |
| Industrial Design | 30 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Fine & Studio Arts | 4,205 |
| Music | 2,284 |
| Drama & Theater Arts | 1,687 |
| General Visual & Performing Arts | 1,636 |
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 1,632 |
| Arts & Media Management | 244 |
| Dance | 216 |
| Other Visual Art | 95 |
| Crafts, Folk Art & Artisanry | 14 |
