Design & Applied Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 361 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best design & applied arts schools.
Leading the list is San Jose State University, our #1 school for design & applied arts. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 228 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 41 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $63,449. Students borrow a median of $12,250 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at University Of Southern California, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 50 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $64,846. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $18,262 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at Chapman University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 82% of students finish within six years. Chapman University awarded about 33 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Chapman University generally make around $46,519. Chapman University graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas At Austin is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 90 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $44,506 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500.
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Lehigh University placed #6 among the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Lehigh University graduates 88% of students within six years. About 27 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Lehigh University in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Lehigh University earn around $70,321 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,008.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #7 spot for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 77 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $44,930 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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University Of Florida landed the #8 spot for design & applied arts this year. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 70 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $43,144 early in their careers. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $19,839 in student loans.
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University Of Notre Dame landed the #9 spot for design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. University Of Notre Dame graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 20 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Notre Dame earn a median of $46,825 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #10 for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. About 140 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $49,780 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,875.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #11 spot for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 75 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $46,761. Typical student debt for the program is $25,802.
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Washington University In St Louis ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. Washington University In St Louis awarded about 80 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Washington University In St Louis earn around $33,615 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,089 to complete this degree.
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Boston University placed #13 among the best design & applied arts schools. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 48 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $49,254. Typical student debt for the program is $21,250.
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Purdue University Main Campus ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 109 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $44,602. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans.
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Worcester Polytechnic Institute landed the #15 spot for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduates 90% of students within six years. About 29 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $91,834 in their early career. Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduates carry a median of $26,259 in student loans.
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University Of California Davis came in at #16 for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Davis. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. University Of California Davis awarded about 277 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $32,816 early in their careers. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 51 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $45,176. Typical student debt for the program is $25,100.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #18 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 157 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $42,462 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,000.
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University Of California Los Angeles landed the #19 spot for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 56 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $57,615 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000.
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University Of Dayton placed #20 among the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. University Of Dayton awarded about 29 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of Dayton earn around $43,609 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Dayton graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans.
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Southern Methodist University earned the #21 position for design & applied arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Dallas. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Southern Methodist University awarded about 20 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $70,632 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,712.
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University Of Pennsylvania ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $99,682. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
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University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #23 spot for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 142 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $52,526. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,851 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #24 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 60 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $34,670 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,839.
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University Of Delaware placed #25 among the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 58 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Delaware in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $42,585 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Design & Applied Arts Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong design & applied arts education:
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 · 361 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).