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2027 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Colorado

13 Colleges in the United States
642 Design & Applied Arts Degrees Awarded
$40,102 Avg Early-Career Salary

Design & Applied Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

College Factual analyzed 13 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 Colorado

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

1

University Of Denver tops our 2027 ranking of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 21 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Denver in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of Denver earn around $31,104 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,534. See the full design & applied arts program report for University Of Denver

2
Colorado College crest
Colorado College
Colorado Springs, CO

A rank of #2 makes Colorado College one of the top schools for design & applied arts. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Colorado Springs. About 88% of students finish within six years. Colorado College awarded about 19 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Colorado College generally make around $37,342. Typical student debt for the program is $17,921. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Colorado College

3

Front Range Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. 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. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Front Range Community College earn around $21,397 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the design & applied arts program at Front Range Community College

4

A rank of #4 makes Arapahoe Community College one of the top schools for design & applied arts. Set in the suburb of Littleton, Arapahoe Community College is a very large public institution. Arapahoe Community College awarded about 57 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Arapahoe Community College generally make around $32,100. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Arapahoe Community College

5

Aims Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in design & applied arts, ranking #5. Set in the city of Greeley, Aims Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 29 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Aims Community College 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. Read more about the design & applied arts program at Aims Community College

6

Metropolitan State College Of Denver came in at #6 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 31%. 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. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $39,450 in their early 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

7

Red Rocks Community College landed the #7 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Lakewood, Red Rocks Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 33 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Red Rocks Community College in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Red Rocks Community College earn a median of $76,340 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,471 to complete this degree. Get the full design & applied arts details for Red Rocks Community College

8
Pikes Peak Community College crest
Pikes Peak Community College
Colorado Springs, CO

Pikes Peak Community College earned the #8 position 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. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Pikes Peak Community College earn around $41,037 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,066. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Pikes Peak Community College

9

Community College Of Denver landed the #9 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Denver, Community College Of Denver is a large public institution. 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

10

Pueblo Community College landed the #10 spot for design & applied arts this year. 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. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Pueblo Community College earn a median of $42,377 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,106 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Pueblo Community College

11
Mesa State College crest
Mesa State College
Grand Junction, CO

Mesa State College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Mesa State College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Junction. About 47% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Mesa State College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Mesa State College generally make around $43,617. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Read more about the design & applied arts program at Mesa State College

12

Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design ranked #12 on our 2027 list of 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. Roughly 32% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design awarded about 226 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $29,829 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $46,544 to complete this degree. See the full design & applied arts program report for Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design

13

Pickens Technical College landed the #13 spot for design & applied arts this year. Pickens Technical College is a small public school located in the city of Aurora. Pickens Technical College awarded about 10 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Pickens Technical College earn a median of $35,622 early in their careers. Pickens Technical College graduates carry a median of $10,250 in student loans. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Pickens Technical College

View All Design & Applied Arts Rankings >

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 · 13 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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