2026 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Oregon
Design & Applied Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their design & applied arts programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for design & applied arts students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in Oregon
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the design & applied arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Design & Applied Arts
Oregon State University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in design & applied arts. Oregon State University is a very large public school located in the city of Corvallis. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 114 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Oregon State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $35,614 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,419 to complete this degree.
Get the full design & applied arts details for Oregon State University
Portland State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 68 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Portland State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Portland State University earn around $35,304 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,995 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Portland State University
A rank of #3 makes George Fox University one of the top schools for design & applied arts. Located in the town of Newberg, George Fox University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. George Fox University graduates 72% of students within six years. George Fox University awarded about 25 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of George Fox University earn a median of $52,898 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,324 to complete this degree.
Get the full design & applied arts details for George Fox University
University Of Oregon is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in design & applied arts, ranking #4. Set in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. University Of Oregon awarded about 45 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Oregon generally make around $28,844. Students borrow a median of $29,050 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for University Of Oregon
Portland Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Portland Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. Portland Community College awarded about 119 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $26,285 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,512.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Portland Community College
Chemeketa Community College earned the #6 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Salem, Chemeketa Community College is a large public institution. About 14 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Chemeketa Community College in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Chemeketa Community College earn a median of $45,440 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,755.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Chemeketa Community College
Mt Hood Community College earned the #7 position for design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Gresham, Mt Hood Community College is a large public university. Mt Hood Community College awarded about 20 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Mt Hood Community College generally make around $53,948. Students borrow a median of $18,767 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Mt Hood Community College
Lane Community College placed #8 among the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Eugene, Lane Community College is a large public university. About 15 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Lane Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Lane Community College generally make around $60,759. Lane Community College graduates carry a median of $18,373 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Lane Community College
Pacific Northwest College Of Art landed the #9 spot for design & applied arts this year. Pacific Northwest College Of Art is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Portland. About 29% of students finish within six years. About 42 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Pacific Northwest College Of Art in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Pacific Northwest College Of Art generally make around $19,501. Students borrow a median of $26,899 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Pacific Northwest College Of Art
Rogue Community College placed #10 among the best design & applied arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Grants Pass. About 41 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Rogue Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Rogue Community College earn around $51,243 in the first couple years of their career. Rogue Community College graduates carry a median of $15,248 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Rogue Community College
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 16 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.
