2026 Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools
Design & Applied Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their design & applied arts programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1237 schools to find the best for design & applied arts students.
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Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in the United States
These are the top schools for a master’s degree in design & applied arts, based on student outcomes and program quality.
Top Schools in Design & Applied Arts
The University Of Texas At Austin is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in design & applied arts. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. About 89% of students finish within six years. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 67 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $44,506 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500.
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Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at University Of Southern California, which ranked #2. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 32 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $64,846. Students borrow a median of $18,262 to complete this degree.
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University Of Florida is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in design & applied arts, ranking #3. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of Florida awarded about 56 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $43,144 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,839 to complete this degree.
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Boston University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in design & applied arts, ranking #4. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 35 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Boston University earn around $49,254 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,250.
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George Washington University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #5 spot this year. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 33 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $54,222 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete this degree.
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Northeastern University landed the #6 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 72 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $49,727 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,250 to complete this degree.
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Washington University In St Louis landed the #7 spot for design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 63 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $33,615 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,089 to complete this degree.
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University Of Central Florida came in at #8 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. About 18 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Central Florida in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $51,790 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,620 to complete this degree.
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Maryland Institute College Of Art came in at #9 for design & applied arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. About 72% of students finish within six years. Maryland Institute College Of Art awarded about 169 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $70,027 in their early career. Maryland Institute College Of Art graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Furman University came in at #10 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Greenville, Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Furman University graduates 79% of students within six years. Furman University awarded about 14 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Furman University earn a median of $36,520 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,764.
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American University came in at #11 for design & applied arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. American University awarded about 22 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $54,585 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,139.
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Northwestern University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Northwestern University awarded about 11 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $78,551 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
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Kansas State University earned the #13 position for design & applied arts this year. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. Kansas State University awarded about 12 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Kansas State University earn around $43,992 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,546.
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Yale University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $74,578. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357.
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Rhode Island School Of Design came in at #15 for design & applied arts this year. Rhode Island School Of Design is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. Rhode Island School Of Design graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Rhode Island School Of Design in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Rhode Island School Of Design earn around $29,489 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Ball State University placed #16 among the best design & applied arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Muncie. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. Ball State University awarded about 36 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $36,864 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,000.
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Fashion Institute Of Technology landed the #17 spot for design & applied arts this year. Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of New York. Fashion Institute Of Technology awarded about 585 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $20,692 in their early career. Fashion Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #18 for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chicago. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $34,377. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans.
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Pratt Institute Main landed the #19 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 360 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Pratt Institute Main in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Pratt Institute Main generally make around $45,720. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
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The New School ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 174 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at The New School in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of The New School earn a median of $39,393 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,606.
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Syracuse University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Syracuse University graduates 84% of students within six years. Syracuse University awarded about 100 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $46,181 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Texas came in at #22 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. University Of North Texas graduates 61% of students within six years. About 75 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of North Texas in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $33,867 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,288 to complete this degree.
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School Of Visual Arts ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of New York, School Of Visual Arts is a mid-sized private for-profit university. About 76% of students finish within six years. School Of Visual Arts awarded about 38 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $48,325 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Virginia Commonwealth University placed #24 among the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates 63% of students within six years. About 365 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $46,439. Typical student debt for the program is $25,937.
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University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #25 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public university. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 53 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn around $37,755 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus
Rest of the Top 41 Design & Applied Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s design & applied arts ranking:
Other Design & Applied Arts Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Design & Applied Arts rankings across degree levels:
View All Design & Applied Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 1237 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.
