2027 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Ohio
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.
College Factual analyzed 27 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best design & applied arts schools.
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Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in Ohio
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall design & applied arts education in Ohio.
Top Schools in Design & Applied Arts
No school ranked higher than Ohio State University Main Campus this year for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 51 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $45,176 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,100.
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University Of Dayton came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. University Of Dayton awarded about 29 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Dayton earn a median of $43,609 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete this degree.
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University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 142 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $52,526. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,851 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes Xavier University one of the top schools for design & applied arts. Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cincinnati. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 12 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Xavier University in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Xavier University earn around $55,045 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,614.
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Miami University Oxford came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 20 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Miami University Oxford in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Miami University Oxford earn around $47,295 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Kent State University At Kent ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. Kent State University At Kent graduates 64% of students within six years. Kent State University At Kent awarded about 265 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $36,351 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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University Of Toledo placed #7 among the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public university. University Of Toledo graduates 58% of students within six years. University Of Toledo awarded about 13 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of Toledo earn around $52,675 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,923 to complete this degree.
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Ohio University Main Campus ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 32 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $24,716 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,791.
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Columbus State Community College placed #9 among the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 245 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Columbus State Community College in the most recent data year. Columbus State Community College graduates carry a median of $9,041 in student loans.
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Sinclair Community College earned the #10 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. Sinclair Community College awarded about 126 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $24,490. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
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Cedarville University earned the #11 position for design & applied arts this year. Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Cedarville. About 72% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 32 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Cedarville University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Cedarville University earn around $35,768 in the first couple years of their career. Cedarville University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Bowling Green State University Main Campus placed #12 among the best design & applied arts schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Bowling Green. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 100 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Bowling Green State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $35,645. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College earned the #13 position for design & applied arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Blue Ash. There were roughly 18 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $42,936 in their early career. University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College graduates carry a median of $19,408 in student loans.
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Cuyahoga Community College District came in at #14 for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Cleveland. About 88 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Cuyahoga Community College District in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Cuyahoga Community College District earn around $22,517 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,795.
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University Of Akron Main Campus earned the #15 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 16 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Akron Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $39,856 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Cleveland Institute Of Art came in at #16 for design & applied arts this year. Cleveland Institute Of Art is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Cleveland Institute Of Art awarded about 58 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $23,358 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Lorain County Community College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of Elyria, Lorain County Community College is a large public institution. About 12 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Lorain County Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Lorain County Community College earn around $40,095 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,611.
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Cincinnati State Technical And Community College landed the #18 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public institution. About 12 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Cincinnati State Technical And Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $47,975 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,730.
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Owens Community College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Perrysburg. There were roughly 28 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Owens Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Owens Community College earn around $45,785 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,383.
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Baldwin Wallace College landed the #20 spot for design & applied arts this year. Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Berea. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 11 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Baldwin Wallace College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Baldwin Wallace College generally make around $31,749. Students borrow a median of $27,307 to complete this degree.
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Cleveland State University came in at #21 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public university. Cleveland State University graduates 51% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Cleveland State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Cleveland State University earn around $24,959 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,875.
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Columbus College Of Art And Design earned the #22 position for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. There were roughly 118 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Columbus College Of Art And Design in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Columbus College Of Art And Design earn around $27,970 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Lakeland Community College came in at #23 for design & applied arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Kirtland. About 15 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Lakeland Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $51,941 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,857.
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Stark State College placed #24 among the best design & applied arts schools. Stark State College is a large public school located in the suburb of North Canton. There were roughly 43 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Stark State College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $42,724 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,349 to complete this degree.
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Art Academy Of Cincinnati placed #25 among the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Art Academy Of Cincinnati is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 41% of students complete a degree within six years here. Art Academy Of Cincinnati awarded about 34 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Art Academy Of Cincinnati earn a median of $20,921 early in their careers. Art Academy Of Cincinnati graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 27 Design & Applied Arts Schools
These schools also placed among the best for design & applied arts this year:
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 27 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.
