2027 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Massachusetts
Design & Applied Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 22 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for design & applied arts students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in Massachusetts
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 Worcester Polytechnic Institute the best school in the country for a degree in design & applied arts. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 30 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Worcester Polytechnic Institute generally make around $91,834. Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduates carry a median of $26,259 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Worcester Polytechnic Institute
A rank of #2 makes Boston University one of the top schools for design & applied arts. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Boston University graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 72 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $49,254 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete this degree.
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University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates 83% of students within six years. About 10 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $53,666 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,195.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from University Of Massachusetts Amherst
A rank of #4 makes Northeastern University one of the top schools for design & applied arts. 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 71 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern University 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.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Northeastern University
A rank of #5 makes Wentworth Institute Of Technology one of the top schools for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Boston, Wentworth Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. 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. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $50,599 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 Wentworth Institute Of Technology
University Of Massachusetts Lowell earned the #6 position for design & applied arts this year. University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lowell. About 65% of students finish within six years. University Of Massachusetts Lowell awarded about 26 design & applied arts degrees 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. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at University Of Massachusetts Lowell
Middlesex Community College Bedford landed the #7 spot for design & applied arts this year. Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public school located in the suburb of Bedford. There were roughly 19 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Middlesex Community College Bedford in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Middlesex Community College Bedford generally make around $48,427. Middlesex Community College Bedford graduates carry a median of $12,755 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Middlesex Community College Bedford
Suffolk University earned the #8 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Boston, Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 30 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Suffolk University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Suffolk University generally make around $47,415. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Wheaton College Massachusetts came in at #9 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Norton, Wheaton College Massachusetts is a small private not-for-profit institution. Wheaton College Massachusetts graduates 73% of students within six years. Wheaton College Massachusetts awarded about 16 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Wheaton College Massachusetts generally make around $32,920. Wheaton College Massachusetts graduates carry a median of $26,117 in student loans.
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Massachusetts College Of Art And Design earned the #10 position for design & applied arts this year. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Boston. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design awarded about 162 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Massachusetts College Of Art And Design earn around $24,706 in the first couple years of their career. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans.
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Lesley University placed #11 among the best design & applied arts schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 48 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Lesley University in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Lesley University earn around $25,227 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete this degree.
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Emmanuel College Massachusetts ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Emmanuel College Massachusetts is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. 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. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Emmanuel College Massachusetts earn around $32,413 in the first couple years of their career. Emmanuel College Massachusetts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of North Dartmouth. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth awarded about 36 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $29,660 in their early career. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Fitchburg State University landed the #14 spot for design & applied arts this year. Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Fitchburg. About 55% of students finish within six years. Fitchburg State University awarded about 36 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Fitchburg State University generally make around $29,191. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Fitchburg State University
Salem State University earned the #15 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 14 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Salem State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Salem State University earn around $49,656 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,176 to complete this degree.
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Assumption College came in at #16 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Worcester, Assumption College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Assumption College awarded about 10 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Assumption College generally make around $28,032. Assumption College graduates carry a median of $26,995 in student loans.
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Springfield Technical Community College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Springfield Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 16 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Springfield Technical Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $42,457 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,707.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Springfield Technical Community College
Massachusetts Bay Community College landed the #18 spot for design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts Bay Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 16 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Massachusetts Bay Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Massachusetts Bay Community College generally make around $44,553. Typical student debt for the program is $11,008.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Massachusetts Bay Community College
Bunker Hill Community College earned the #19 position for design & applied arts this year. Bunker Hill Community College is a large public school located in the city of Boston. Bunker Hill Community College awarded about 26 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Bunker Hill Community College earn around $51,782 in the first couple years of their career. Bunker Hill Community College graduates carry a median of $11,893 in student loans.
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Lasell College came in at #20 for design & applied arts this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Newton. Lasell College graduates 59% of students within six years. Lasell College awarded about 27 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Lasell College earn around $29,661 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Holyoke Community College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Holyoke. Holyoke Community College awarded about 17 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Holyoke Community College generally make around $43,423. Typical student debt for the program is $9,763.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Holyoke Community College
Montserrat College Of Art came in at #22 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Beverly, Montserrat College Of Art is a small private not-for-profit university. Montserrat College Of Art graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Montserrat College Of Art in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Montserrat College Of Art generally make around $19,865. Montserrat College Of Art graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Montserrat College Of Art
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 22 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.