2027 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the New England 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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 39 schools to find the best for design & applied arts students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in the New England Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall design & applied arts education in the New England Region.
Top Schools in Design & Applied Arts
No school ranked higher than Worcester Polytechnic Institute this year for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduates 90% of students within six years. Worcester Polytechnic Institute awarded about 30 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn a median of $91,834 early in their careers. Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduates carry a median of $26,259 in student loans.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at Boston University, which ranked #2. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. About 89% of students finish within six years. Boston University awarded about 72 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Boston University earn a median of $49,254 early in their careers. Boston University graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Boston University
A rank of #3 makes University Of Massachusetts Amherst one of the top schools for design & applied arts. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $53,666 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,195.
See the full design & applied arts program report for University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Northeastern University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 90% of students finish within six years. Northeastern University awarded about 71 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Northeastern University earn a median of $49,727 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $28,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Northeastern University
Wentworth Institute Of Technology is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in design & applied arts, ranking #5. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. Wentworth Institute Of Technology graduates 68% of students within six years. About 51 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Wentworth Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Wentworth Institute Of Technology earn around $50,599 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Wentworth Institute Of Technology
University Of Massachusetts Lowell landed the #6 spot for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Lowell. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 26 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Lowell in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Massachusetts Lowell earn a median of $41,020 early in their careers. University Of Massachusetts Lowell graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for University Of Massachusetts Lowell
Quinnipiac University earned the #7 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Hamden, Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Quinnipiac University graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 31 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Quinnipiac University in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Quinnipiac University earn a median of $35,884 early in their careers. Quinnipiac University graduates carry a median of $26,976 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Quinnipiac University
Rhode Island School Of Design ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Providence, Rhode Island School Of Design is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 131 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Rhode Island School Of Design in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $29,489 in their early career. Rhode Island School Of Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Rhode Island School Of Design
Yale University landed the #9 spot for design & applied arts this year. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. About 96% of students finish within six years. Yale University awarded about 18 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $74,578 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Yale University
Middlesex Community College Bedford came in at #10 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public university. Middlesex Community College Bedford awarded about 19 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Middlesex Community College Bedford earn a median of $48,427 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,755 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Middlesex Community College Bedford
Roger Williams University came in at #11 for design & applied arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Bristol. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Roger Williams University in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Roger Williams University earn around $48,664 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,445 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Roger Williams University
Champlain College placed #12 among the best design & applied arts schools. Champlain College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Burlington. Champlain College graduates 65% of students within six years. Champlain College awarded about 61 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Champlain College generally make around $38,264. Champlain College graduates carry a median of $26,885 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Champlain College
Suffolk University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Boston, Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 61% of students finish within six years. Suffolk University awarded about 30 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Suffolk University earn a median of $47,415 early in their careers. Suffolk University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Suffolk University
Wheaton College Massachusetts landed the #14 spot for design & applied arts this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Norton. Wheaton College Massachusetts graduates 73% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Wheaton College Massachusetts in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Wheaton College Massachusetts earn a median of $32,920 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,117 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Wheaton College Massachusetts
Central Connecticut State University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of New Britain, Central Connecticut State University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. About 38 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Central Connecticut State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Central Connecticut State University earn around $34,930 in the first couple years of their career. Central Connecticut State University graduates carry a median of $22,641 in student loans.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Central Connecticut State University
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design came in at #16 for design & applied arts this year. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Boston. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design awarded about 162 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Massachusetts College Of Art And Design generally make around $24,706. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Massachusetts College Of Art And Design
Keene State College came in at #17 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the town of Keene, Keene State College is a mid-sized public university. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Keene State College in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Keene State College earn a median of $34,947 early in their careers. Keene State College graduates carry a median of $25,371 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Keene State College
New England Institute Of Technology landed the #18 spot for design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of East Greenwich, New England Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 72 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at New England Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of New England Institute Of Technology earn a median of $26,833 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,584 to complete this degree.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at New England Institute Of Technology
Lesley University landed the #19 spot for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 48 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Lesley University in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $25,227 in their early career. Lesley University graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Lesley University
Emmanuel College Massachusetts earned the #20 position for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Boston, Emmanuel College Massachusetts is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Emmanuel College Massachusetts graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Emmanuel College Massachusetts in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Emmanuel College Massachusetts generally make around $32,413. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Emmanuel College Massachusetts
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth landed the #21 spot for design & applied arts this year. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of North Dartmouth. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. There were roughly 36 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth generally make around $29,660. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full design & applied arts program report for University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Fitchburg State University placed #22 among the best design & applied arts schools. Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Fitchburg. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. Fitchburg State University awarded about 36 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $29,191 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full design & applied arts details for Fitchburg State University
University Of Hartford landed the #23 spot for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of West Hartford, University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. University Of Hartford awarded about 43 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of Hartford earn around $29,515 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Salem State University placed #24 among the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public university. Salem State University graduates 50% of students within six years. About 14 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Salem State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $49,656 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,176 to complete this degree.
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Assumption College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Assumption College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 10 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Assumption College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Assumption College earn around $28,032 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,995.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Assumption College
Rest of the Top 39 Design & Applied Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s design & applied arts ranking:
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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 · 39 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.