2026 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Arizona
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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools to find the best for design & applied arts students.
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Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in Arizona
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall design & applied arts education in Arizona.
Top Schools in Design & Applied Arts
No school ranked higher than Arizona State University this year for design & applied arts. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Arizona State University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 231 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $41,589 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Arizona State University
Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at Northern Arizona University, which ranked #2. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. There were roughly 102 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Northern Arizona University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Northern Arizona University earn around $33,964 in the first couple years of their career. Northern Arizona University graduates carry a median of $23,245 in student loans.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Northern Arizona University
University Of Arizona is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 28 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arizona in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $50,834 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,861 to complete this degree.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at University Of Arizona
Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at Grand Canyon University, which ranked #4. Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. About 44% of students finish within six years. Grand Canyon University awarded about 124 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Grand Canyon University generally make around $38,976. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Grand Canyon University
Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at Glendale Community College Glendale Az, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public university. Glendale Community College Glendale Az awarded about 44 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Glendale Community College Glendale Az earn a median of $51,483 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,996.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Glendale Community College Glendale Az
Scottsdale Community College placed #6 among the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a large public university. About 58 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Scottsdale Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Scottsdale Community College earn around $38,676 in the first couple years of their career. Scottsdale Community College graduates carry a median of $13,084 in student loans.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Scottsdale Community College
Arizona State University Skysong earned the #7 position for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a very large public university. About 49 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Arizona State University Skysong in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Arizona State University Skysong generally make around $41,589. Arizona State University Skysong graduates carry a median of $23,742 in student loans.
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Mesa Community College earned the #8 position for design & applied arts this year. Mesa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Mesa. There were roughly 107 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Mesa Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Mesa Community College earn around $54,730 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,750.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Mesa Community College
Paradise Valley Community College earned the #9 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Paradise Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 15 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Paradise Valley Community College in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Paradise Valley Community College earn a median of $71,136 early in their careers. Paradise Valley Community College graduates carry a median of $14,204 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Paradise Valley Community College
Pima Community College earned the #10 position for design & applied arts this year. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. About 13 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Pima Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Pima Community College generally make around $40,977. Typical student debt for the program is $10,655.
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Yavapai College placed #11 among the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Prescott, Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 23 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Yavapai College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Yavapai College earn around $52,087 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,087 to complete this degree.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Yavapai College
Phoenix College earned the #12 position for design & applied arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Phoenix. There were roughly 42 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Phoenix College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Phoenix College generally make around $51,053. Students borrow a median of $15,204 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Phoenix College
Central Arizona College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Coolidge. There were roughly 13 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Central Arizona College in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Central Arizona College earn a median of $48,826 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,635.
Get the full design & applied arts details for Central Arizona College
University Of Advancing Technology earned the #14 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Tempe, University Of Advancing Technology is a small private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 27%. University Of Advancing Technology awarded about 41 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of Advancing Technology earn around $30,640 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,895 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for University Of Advancing Technology
Bryan University Los Angeles landed the #15 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Bryan University Los Angeles is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. Bryan University Los Angeles awarded about 30 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $31,425 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,400 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Bryan University Los Angeles
Sessions College For Professional Design came in at #16 for design & applied arts this year. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of Tempe. About 55 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Sessions College For Professional Design in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Sessions College For Professional Design earn around $19,275 in the first couple years of their career. Sessions College For Professional Design graduates carry a median of $25,199 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Sessions College For Professional Design
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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.
