2027 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Design & Applied Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their design & applied arts programs.
College Factual analyzed 29 schools to build this 2027 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
Our analysis ranked University Of Utah the best school in the country for a degree in design & applied arts. This very large public university is located in the city of Salt Lake City. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Utah awarded about 75 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $60,527. Typical student debt for the program is $16,344.
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Western Governors University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Western Governors University in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Western Governors University earn a median of $74,771 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,277.
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Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at University Of Denver, which ranked #3. University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver. About 76% of students finish within six years. University Of Denver awarded about 21 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Denver generally make around $31,104. Typical student debt for the program is $22,534.
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Colorado College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Colorado College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Colorado Springs. Colorado College graduates 88% of students within six years. About 19 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Colorado College in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Colorado College earn around $37,342 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,921.
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Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at Utah State University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 41 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Utah State University in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Utah State University earn a median of $52,431 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,191.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Utah State University
Weber State University came in at #6 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public institution. Weber State University graduates 47% of students within six years. There were roughly 46 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Weber State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Weber State University earn around $40,507 in the first couple years of their career. Weber State University graduates carry a median of $21,851 in student loans.
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Brigham Young University Provo came in at #7 for design & applied arts this year. Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. Brigham Young University Provo awarded about 70 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Brigham Young University Provo earn a median of $33,915 early in their careers. Brigham Young University Provo graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans.
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Utah Valley University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Orem. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 1,052 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Utah Valley University in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $31,888 early in their careers. Utah Valley University graduates carry a median of $14,057 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Utah Valley University
Brigham Young University Idaho earned the #9 position for design & applied arts this year. Located in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 50% of students finish within six years. Brigham Young University Idaho awarded about 300 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $43,853 in their early career. Brigham Young University Idaho graduates carry a median of $13,287 in student loans.
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Montana State University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Montana State University is a large public school located in the city of Bozeman. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 22 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Montana State University in the most recent 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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Salt Lake Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Community College is a very large public institution. About 86 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Salt Lake Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Salt Lake Community College earn around $34,227 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,766 to complete this degree.
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Latter Day Saints Business College landed the #12 spot 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 75 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Latter Day Saints Business College in the most recent year.
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Front Range Community College earned the #13 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a very large public institution. About 88 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Front Range Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Front Range Community College generally make around $21,397. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Front Range Community College
Arapahoe Community College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Littleton, Arapahoe Community College is a very large public university. Arapahoe Community College awarded about 57 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $32,100 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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North Idaho College placed #15 among the best design & applied arts schools. North Idaho College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Coeur d'Alene. There were roughly 17 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at North Idaho College in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of North Idaho College earn a median of $49,489 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,688.
See the full design & applied arts program report for North Idaho College
Aims Community College earned the #16 position for design & applied arts this year. Aims Community College is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. Aims Community College awarded about 29 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Aims Community College earn around $45,909 in the first couple years of their career. Aims Community College graduates carry a median of $11,199 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Aims Community College
Metropolitan State College Of Denver earned the #17 position for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public university. Roughly 31% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 46 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Metropolitan State College Of Denver in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Metropolitan State College Of Denver earn around $39,450 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,125 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Metropolitan State College Of Denver
Southern Utah University placed #18 among the best design & applied arts schools. Southern Utah University is a very large public school located in the town of Cedar City. About 50% of students finish within six years. Southern Utah University awarded about 23 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Southern Utah University earn around $44,998 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,886 to complete this degree.
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Lewis Clark State College landed the #19 spot for design & applied arts this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Lewiston. The six-year graduation rate is 32%. Lewis Clark State College awarded about 11 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $44,496 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,781.
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Red Rocks Community College landed the #20 spot for design & applied arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Lakewood. There were roughly 33 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Red Rocks Community College in the most recent data 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. Students borrow a median of $14,471 to complete this degree.
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Pikes Peak Community College landed the #21 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College is a large public institution. Pikes Peak Community College awarded about 50 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Pikes Peak Community College earn a median of $41,037 early in their careers. Pikes Peak Community College graduates carry a median of $16,066 in student loans.
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Community College Of Denver earned the #22 position for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Denver, Community College Of Denver is a large public university. About 37 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Community College Of Denver in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Community College Of Denver earn around $45,202 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,830.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Community College Of Denver
Pueblo Community College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Pueblo, Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Pueblo Community College awarded about 15 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Pueblo Community College earn around $42,377 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,106 to complete this degree.
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Boise State University placed #24 among the best design & applied arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Boise. About 59% of students finish within six years. About 74 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Boise State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $31,083 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,599 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Boise State University
Flathead Valley Community College earned the #25 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the town of Kalispell, Flathead Valley Community College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 10 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Flathead Valley Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $45,868 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,094 to complete this degree.
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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:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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.