2026 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Design & Applied Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 184 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for design & applied arts students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall design & applied arts education in the Middle Atlantic Region.
Top Schools in Design & Applied Arts
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus 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 University Park. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 26 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
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A rank of #2 makes Lehigh University one of the top schools for design & applied arts. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bethlehem. About 88% of students finish within six years. Lehigh University awarded about 14 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Lehigh University earn around $70,321 in the first couple years of their career. Lehigh University graduates carry a median of $23,008 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Lehigh University
A rank of #3 makes University Of Pennsylvania one of the top schools for design & applied arts. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $99,682. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
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County College Of Morris came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Randolph. County College Of Morris awarded about 18 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $30,966 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,420.
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A rank of #5 makes Carnegie Mellon University one of the top schools for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 44 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $93,581 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Delaware landed the #6 spot for design & applied arts this year. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 35 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Delaware in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $42,585 in their early career. University Of Delaware graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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George Washington University came in at #7 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. George Washington University graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 48 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $54,222 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,910.
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Syracuse University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 124 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Syracuse University earn around $46,181 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Drexel University earned the #9 position for design & applied arts this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. Drexel University graduates 78% of students within six years. About 116 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Drexel University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Drexel University generally make around $38,154. Drexel University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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American University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. American University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. American University awarded about 22 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from American University generally make around $54,585. Typical student debt for the program is $24,139.
See the full design & applied arts program report for American University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute landed the #11 spot for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 45 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $36,191 in their early career. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Fashion Institute Of Technology placed #12 among the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 1,404 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Fashion Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Fashion Institute Of Technology generally make around $20,692. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete this degree.
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Temple University placed #13 among the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Temple University in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $43,530 in their early career. Temple University graduates carry a median of $26,875 in student loans.
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Pratt Institute Main placed #14 among the best design & applied arts schools. Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. Pratt Institute Main graduates 74% of students within six years. About 503 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Pratt Institute Main in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Pratt Institute Main earn a median of $40,880 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
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Rochester Institute Of Technology ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Rochester. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 193 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Rochester Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Rochester Institute Of Technology earn around $34,709 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Marist College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. Marist College graduates 80% of students within six years. Marist College awarded about 45 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $28,336 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,929 to complete this degree.
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Suny College At Oneonta earned the #17 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the town of Oneonta, Suny College At Oneonta is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 43 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Suny College At Oneonta in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Suny College At Oneonta earn a median of $36,629 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,046.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Suny College At Oneonta
Maryland Institute College Of Art came in at #18 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Maryland Institute College Of Art is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 279 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Maryland Institute College Of Art in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Maryland Institute College Of Art earn around $48,637 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 Maryland Institute College Of Art
Thomas Jefferson University came in at #19 for design & applied arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 42 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Thomas Jefferson University in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Thomas Jefferson University earn a median of $36,433 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Rutgers University New Brunswick placed #20 among the best design & applied arts schools. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Rutgers University New Brunswick awarded about 16 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $32,397 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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The New School placed #21 among the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. The New School awarded about 631 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from The New School earn around $36,279 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,606 to complete this degree.
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State University Of New York At New Paltz landed the #22 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the town of New Paltz, State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 30 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at State University Of New York At New Paltz in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from State University Of New York At New Paltz earn around $34,677 in the first couple years of their career. State University Of New York At New Paltz graduates carry a median of $22,879 in student loans.
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New Jersey Institute Of Technology came in at #23 for design & applied arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Newark. About 73% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 24 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at New Jersey Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from New Jersey Institute Of Technology generally make around $38,975. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Suffolk County Community College earned the #24 position for design & applied arts this year. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. There were roughly 44 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Suffolk County Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Suffolk County Community College earn around $24,907 in the first couple years of their career. Suffolk County Community College graduates carry a median of $9,132 in student loans.
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Pennsylvania Western University earned the #25 position for design & applied arts this year. This large public university is located in the town of California. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 19 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania Western University in the most recent year.
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Rest of the Top 50 Design & Applied Arts Schools
These schools also placed among the best for design & applied arts this year:
Honorable Mentions
A few more design & applied arts schools worth a look:
Narrow Design & Applied Arts Schools by State
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 · 184 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.
