2027 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in New York
Design & Applied Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 38 schools to find the best for design & applied arts students.
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Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in New York
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
Syracuse University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in design & applied arts. 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. There were roughly 124 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Syracuse University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $46,181. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Syracuse University
Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at Fashion Institute Of Technology, which ranked #2. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of New York. There were roughly 1,424 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Fashion Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Fashion Institute Of Technology earn a median of $20,692 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #3 makes Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute one of the top schools for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates 84% of students within six years. About 46 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of $36,191 early in their careers. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Pratt Institute Main came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Pratt Institute Main graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 333 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Pratt Institute Main in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Pratt Institute Main earn around $40,880 in the first couple years of their career. Pratt Institute Main graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at Marist College, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 49 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Marist College in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $28,336 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,929.
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Rochester Institute Of Technology earned the #6 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 176 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Rochester Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Rochester Institute Of Technology generally make around $34,709. Rochester Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Suny College At Oneonta landed the #7 spot for design & applied arts this year. Located in the town of Oneonta, Suny College At Oneonta is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. Suny College At Oneonta awarded about 37 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $36,629 in their early career. Suny College At Oneonta graduates carry a median of $22,046 in student loans.
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State University Of New York At New Paltz earned the #8 position for design & applied arts this year. Located in the town of New Paltz, State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public university. About 72% of students finish within six years. State University Of New York At New Paltz awarded about 31 design & applied arts degrees 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. Typical student debt for the program is $22,879.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from State University Of New York At New Paltz
The New School ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 789 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 $36,279 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,606.
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Farmingdale State College came in at #10 for design & applied arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Farmingdale. Farmingdale State College graduates 57% of students within six years. About 50 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Farmingdale State College in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Farmingdale State College earn a median of $27,827 early in their careers. Farmingdale State College graduates carry a median of $18,875 in student loans.
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Suffolk County Community College came in at #11 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 42 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Suffolk County Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $24,907. Suffolk County Community College graduates carry a median of $9,132 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Suffolk County Community College
St Johns University New York ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Queens. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 40 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at St Johns University New York in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of St Johns University New York earn a median of $57,686 early in their careers. St Johns University New York graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from St Johns University New York
Monroe Community College landed the #13 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Monroe Community College is a very large public institution. Monroe Community College awarded about 37 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Monroe Community College earn a median of $27,718 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,250.
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Adelphi University placed #14 among the best design & applied arts schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Garden City. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. Adelphi University awarded about 30 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Adelphi University generally make around $51,037. Students borrow a median of $25,487 to complete this degree.
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Nassau Community College came in at #15 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 34 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Nassau Community College in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $18,107 early in their careers. Nassau Community College graduates carry a median of $10,600 in student loans.
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Cuny New York City College Of Technology earned the #16 position for design & applied arts this year. Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. About 21% of students finish within six years. Cuny New York City College Of Technology awarded about 99 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Cuny New York City College Of Technology earn a median of $21,445 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
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Suny College At Buffalo placed #17 among the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Buffalo, Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public university. About 33% of students finish within six years. About 31 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Suny College At Buffalo in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Suny College At Buffalo earn a median of $39,412 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,257.
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Mohawk Valley Community College earned the #18 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Utica, Mohawk Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 41 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Mohawk Valley Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $21,012 in their early career. Mohawk Valley Community College graduates carry a median of $9,534 in student loans.
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Suny College At Oswego ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Oswego. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Suny College At Oswego in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Suny College At Oswego earn around $32,546 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,530 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Queens College came in at #20 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a large public university. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 81 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Cuny Queens College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Cuny Queens College generally make around $19,349. Students borrow a median of $17,625 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Laguardia Community College earned the #21 position for design & applied arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Long Island City. Cuny Laguardia Community College awarded about 25 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $13,554 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,858 to complete this degree.
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School Of Visual Arts came in at #22 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of New York, School Of Visual Arts is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 288 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at School Of Visual Arts in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $32,155 in their early career. School Of Visual Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Suny At Fredonia came in at #23 for design & applied arts this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Fredonia. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 38 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Fredonia in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Suny At Fredonia generally make around $19,451. Typical student debt for the program is $26,500.
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Suny At Purchase College placed #24 among the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 24 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Suny At Purchase College in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Suny At Purchase College earn around $23,182 in the first couple years of their career. Suny At Purchase College graduates carry a median of $23,689 in student loans.
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Suny College Of Technology At Canton placed #25 among the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the town of Canton, Suny College Of Technology At Canton is a moderately-sized public university. Suny College Of Technology At Canton graduates 42% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Suny College Of Technology At Canton in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $46,515 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,640.
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Rest of the Top 38 Design & Applied Arts Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong design & applied arts education:
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 38 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.
