2026 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Ohio

1

Ohio State University Main Campus
Columbus, OH

Ohio State University Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best design & applied arts schools. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 53 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $45,176 in their early career. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,100 in student loans. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Ohio State University Main Campus

2

University Of Dayton
Dayton, OH

A rank of #2 makes University Of Dayton one of the top schools for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit university. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 31 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Dayton in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $43,609 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,033. Read more about the design & applied arts program at University Of Dayton

3

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Cincinnati, OH

Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 127 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $52,526. Students borrow a median of $25,851 to complete this degree. See the full design & applied arts program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

4

Miami University Oxford
Oxford, OH

Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at Miami University Oxford, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 26 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Miami University Oxford in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $47,295 early in their careers. Miami University Oxford graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. See the full design & applied arts program report for Miami University Oxford

5

Kent State University At Kent
Kent, OH

Kent State University At Kent is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 297 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Kent State University At Kent in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $36,351 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the design & applied arts program at Kent State University At Kent

6

Bowling Green State University Main Campus
Bowling Green, OH

Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #6 for design & applied arts this year. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 98 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Bowling Green State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn around $35,645 in the first couple years of their career. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the design & applied arts program at Bowling Green State University Main Campus

7

Cedarville University
Cedarville, OH

Cedarville University placed #7 among the best design & applied arts schools. Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Cedarville. Cedarville University graduates 72% of students within six years. About 34 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Cedarville University in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Cedarville University earn a median of $35,768 early in their careers. Cedarville University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Cedarville University

8

Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Mount Vernon, OH

Mount Vernon Nazarene University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Mount Vernon. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Mount Vernon Nazarene University in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $53,377 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,602. See the full design & applied arts program report for Mount Vernon Nazarene University

9

Ohio University Main Campus
Athens, OH

Ohio University Main Campus landed the #9 spot for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Athens. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 28 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $24,716 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,791 to complete this degree. Read more about the design & applied arts program at Ohio University Main Campus

10

Sinclair Community College
Dayton, OH

Sinclair Community College placed #10 among the best design & applied arts schools. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. Sinclair Community College awarded about 118 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Sinclair Community College earn around $24,490 in the first couple years of their career. Sinclair Community College graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Sinclair Community College

11

University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College
Blue Ash, OH

University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College placed #11 among the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Blue Ash, University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a large public university. University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College awarded about 17 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College earn around $42,936 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,408 to complete this degree. Get the full design & applied arts details for University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College

12

University Of Akron Main Campus
Akron, OH

University Of Akron Main Campus landed the #12 spot for design & applied arts this year. University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 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. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from University Of Akron Main Campus

13

Cuyahoga Community College District
Cleveland, OH

Cuyahoga Community College District placed #13 among the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public institution. Cuyahoga Community College District awarded about 109 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $22,517 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,795. See the full design & applied arts program report for Cuyahoga Community College District

14

Columbus State Community College
Columbus, OH

Columbus State Community College came in at #14 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public university. About 262 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Columbus State Community College in the most recent year. Typical student debt for the program is $9,041. See the full design & applied arts program report for Columbus State Community College

15

Cleveland Institute Of Art
Cleveland, OH

Cleveland Institute Of Art ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland Institute Of Art is a small private not-for-profit institution. Cleveland Institute Of Art graduates 58% of students within six years. About 63 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Cleveland Institute Of Art in the most recent 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. Get the full design & applied arts details for Cleveland Institute Of Art

16

Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH

Cleveland State University came in at #16 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public university. About 51% of students finish within six years. About 27 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Cleveland State University in the most recent 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. Get the full design & applied arts details for Cleveland State University

17

Lakeland Community College
Kirtland, OH

Lakeland Community College earned the #17 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Kirtland, Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 13 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Lakeland Community College in the most recent data 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. See the full design & applied arts program report for Lakeland Community College

18

Owens Community College
Perrysburg, OH

Owens Community College came in at #18 for design & applied arts this year. Owens Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Perrysburg. Owens Community College awarded about 28 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $45,785 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,383 to complete this degree. Get the full design & applied arts details for Owens Community College

19

Columbus College Of Art And Design
Columbus, OH

Columbus College Of Art And Design placed #19 among the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. Columbus College Of Art And Design graduates 56% of students within six years. There were roughly 147 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Columbus College Of Art And Design in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Columbus College Of Art And Design earn a median of $27,970 early in their careers. Columbus College Of Art And Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full design & applied arts details for Columbus College Of Art And Design

20

Stark State College
North Canton, OH

Stark State College came in at #20 for design & applied arts this year. Stark State College is a large public school located in the suburb of North Canton. There were roughly 47 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Stark State College in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Stark State College earn a median of $42,724 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,349 to complete this degree. Read more about the design & applied arts program at Stark State College

21

Art Academy Of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH

Art Academy Of Cincinnati ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Art Academy Of Cincinnati is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 41% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 32 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Art Academy Of Cincinnati in the most recent 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. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Art Academy Of Cincinnati

22

School Of Advertising Art Inc
Kettering, OH

School Of Advertising Art Inc came in at #22 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Kettering, School Of Advertising Art Inc is a small private for-profit university. There were roughly 53 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at School Of Advertising Art Inc in the most recent data year. School Of Advertising Art Inc graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from School Of Advertising Art Inc