2026 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Design & Applied Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their design & applied arts programs.
College Factual analyzed 40 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best design & applied arts schools.
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Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall design & applied arts education in the Rocky Mountains Region.
Top Schools in Design & Applied Arts
University Of Utah is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in design & applied arts. University Of Utah is a very large public school located in the city of Salt Lake City. University Of Utah graduates 65% of students within six years. About 78 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Utah in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $60,527 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,344.
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University Of Denver is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 27 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Denver in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $31,104 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,534 to complete this degree.
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Montana State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public institution. Montana State University graduates 57% of students within six years. Montana State University awarded about 23 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Montana State University earn a median of $36,931 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,880.
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Brigham Young University Provo came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Provo. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. Brigham Young University Provo awarded about 53 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $33,915. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete this degree.
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Weber State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Weber State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ogden. About 47% of students finish within six years. Weber State University awarded about 31 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $40,507 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,851 to complete this degree.
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Salt Lake Community College came in at #6 for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. Salt Lake Community College awarded about 90 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Salt Lake Community College earn a median of $34,227 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,766 to complete this degree.
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Brigham Young University Idaho ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Brigham Young University Idaho graduates 50% of students within six years. About 256 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Brigham Young University Idaho in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Brigham Young University Idaho earn around $43,853 in the first couple years of their career. Brigham Young University Idaho graduates carry a median of $13,287 in student loans.
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Utah Valley University earned the #8 position for design & applied arts this year. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. Utah Valley University awarded about 460 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $31,888 in their early career. Utah Valley University graduates carry a median of $14,057 in student loans.
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Latter Day Saints Business College earned the #9 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, Latter Day Saints Business College is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 80 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Latter Day Saints Business College in the most recent year.
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Arapahoe Community College earned the #10 position for design & applied arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Littleton. There were roughly 60 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Arapahoe Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Arapahoe Community College earn around $32,100 in the first couple years of their career. Arapahoe Community College graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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Front Range Community College placed #11 among the best design & applied arts schools. Front Range Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Westminster. There were roughly 31 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Front Range Community College in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Front Range Community College earn a median of $21,397 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
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Aims Community College earned the #12 position for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Greeley, Aims Community College is a large public university. Aims Community College awarded about 35 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $45,909 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,199 to complete this degree.
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Metropolitan State College Of Denver placed #13 among the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public university. Metropolitan State College Of Denver graduates 31% of students within six years. There were roughly 38 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Metropolitan State College Of Denver in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Metropolitan State College Of Denver generally make around $39,450. Students borrow a median of $29,125 to complete this degree.
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North Idaho College came in at #14 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Coeur d'Alene, North Idaho College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 23 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at North Idaho College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $49,489 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,688.
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Red Rocks Community College landed the #15 spot for design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Lakewood, Red Rocks Community College is a large public university. About 47 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Red Rocks Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Red Rocks Community College earn around $76,340 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,471.
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Southern Utah University placed #16 among the best design & applied arts schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Cedar City. About 50% of students finish within six years. Southern Utah University awarded about 22 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Southern Utah University generally make around $44,998. Southern Utah University graduates carry a median of $12,886 in student loans.
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Northwest College came in at #17 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the town of Powell, Northwest College is a small public university. Northwest College awarded about 19 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Northwest College generally make around $40,014. Northwest College graduates carry a median of $12,996 in student loans.
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Pikes Peak Community College earned the #18 position for design & applied arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Colorado Springs. There were roughly 47 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Pikes Peak Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $41,037 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,066 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Pikes Peak Community College
Boise State University earned the #19 position for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Boise. Boise State University graduates 59% of students within six years. There were roughly 107 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Boise State University in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Boise State University earn a median of $31,083 early in their careers. Boise State University graduates carry a median of $28,599 in student loans.
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Community College Of Denver ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Denver, Community College Of Denver is a large public university. About 20 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Community College Of Denver in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $45,202 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,830.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Community College Of Denver
Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design placed #21 among the best design & applied arts schools. Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the suburb of Lakewood. Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design graduates 32% of students within six years. About 162 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design earn around $29,829 in the first couple years of their career. Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design graduates carry a median of $46,544 in student loans.
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Pickens Technical College earned the #22 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Aurora, Pickens Technical College is a small public institution. There were roughly 12 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Pickens Technical College in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Pickens Technical College earn a median of $35,622 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,250.
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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 · 40 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.