2027 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Pennsylvania
Design & Applied Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 29 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best design & applied arts schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in Pennsylvania
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
Our analysis ranked Lehigh University the best school in the country for a degree in design & applied arts. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. There were roughly 27 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Lehigh University in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Lehigh University earn a median of $70,321 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,008.
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University Of Pennsylvania came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. About 22 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $99,682 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from University Of Pennsylvania
Carnegie Mellon University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 39 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. Carnegie Mellon University graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes Pennsylvania State University Main Campus one of the top schools for design & applied arts. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 41 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn around $43,324 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Drexel University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. Drexel University graduates 78% of students within six years. There were roughly 150 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Drexel University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $38,154 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 Drexel University
Thomas Jefferson University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Thomas Jefferson University graduates 69% of students within six years. Thomas Jefferson University awarded about 44 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Thomas Jefferson University generally make around $36,433. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania placed #7 among the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the town of Shippensburg, Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. About 11 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $46,912 early in their careers. Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $26,307 in student loans.
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Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania earned the #8 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the town of Kutztown, Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania graduates 54% of students within six years. About 64 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $40,286 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Susquehanna University landed the #9 spot for design & applied arts this year. Located in the town of Selinsgrove, Susquehanna University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Susquehanna University in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Susquehanna University earn around $42,510 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Juniata College earned the #10 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the town of Huntingdon, Juniata College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Juniata College graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Juniata College in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Juniata College earn a median of $30,552 early in their careers. Juniata College graduates carry a median of $26,976 in student loans.
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Delaware County Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Media, Delaware County Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 18 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Delaware County Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Delaware County Community College generally make around $40,102. Typical student debt for the program is $14,866.
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York College Pennsylvania came in at #12 for design & applied arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of York. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. York College Pennsylvania awarded about 17 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from York College Pennsylvania generally make around $30,567. Students borrow a median of $26,537 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from York College Pennsylvania
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This large public university is located in the town of Indiana. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 36 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earn around $34,981 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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La Roche College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Pittsburgh, La Roche College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 12 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at La Roche College in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $54,268 in their early career. La Roche College graduates carry a median of $27,078 in student loans.
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Pennsylvania College Of Technology ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Williamsport. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. There were roughly 20 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania College Of Technology in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $45,572 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Millersville University Of Pennsylvania landed the #16 spot for design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Millersville, Millersville University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 23 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Millersville University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Millersville University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $47,049 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,486.
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Northampton County Area Community College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Bethlehem. There were roughly 34 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Northampton County Area Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Northampton County Area Community College generally make around $19,022. Typical student debt for the program is $15,250.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Northampton County Area Community College
Mercyhurst College came in at #18 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Erie, Mercyhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Mercyhurst College graduates 64% of students within six years. About 12 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Mercyhurst College in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Mercyhurst College earn around $28,267 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Lehigh Carbon Community College landed the #19 spot for design & applied arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Schnecksville. There were roughly 30 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Lehigh Carbon Community College in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Lehigh Carbon Community College earn a median of $27,896 early in their careers. Lehigh Carbon Community College graduates carry a median of $14,450 in student loans.
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Marywood University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Marywood University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Scranton. About 72% of students finish within six years. Marywood University awarded about 27 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $25,727 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,362 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Marywood University
Pennsylvania Western University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This large public university is located in the town of California. About 52% of students finish within six years. Pennsylvania Western University awarded about 22 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Pennsylvania Western University earn around $45,448 in the first couple years of their career. Pennsylvania Western University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Pennsylvania Western University
Moore College Of Art And Design earned the #22 position for design & applied arts this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 61 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Moore College Of Art And Design in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Moore College Of Art And Design generally make around $20,587. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Moore College Of Art And Design
Harrisburg University Of Science And Technology earned the #23 position for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Harrisburg, Harrisburg University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 34% of students finish within six years. About 22 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Harrisburg University Of Science And Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $35,098 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,375 to complete this degree.
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Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg came in at #24 for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisburg. About 33 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg generally make around $41,382. Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans.
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Albright College placed #25 among the best design & applied arts schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Reading. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 28 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Albright College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $29,793 in their early career. Albright College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 29 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 list is compiled 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 · 29 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.