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2026 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in District of Columbia

[Graphic Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/graphic-design/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools to find the best return on investment for graphic design students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Graphic Design Schools in District of Columbia

2026 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in District of Columbia

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in graphic design, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Graphic Design Schools

1

George Washington University
Washington, DC

$67,710 In-State Tuition & Fees

$22,910 Avg Student Debt

$90,873 Median Earnings (10yr)

George Washington University tops our 2026 list of the best value graphic design schools in District of Columbia. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,710. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $22,910. Early-career graphic design graduates make about $54,222. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 47%.

2

American University
Washington, DC

$58,771 In-State Tuition & Fees

$24,139 Avg Student Debt

$77,370 Median Earnings (10yr)

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at American University earned it the #2 place for graphic design. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $58,771 in tuition and fees. Graphic Design graduates carry a median of $24,139 in student loans. Early-career graphic design graduates make about $54,585. That is a strong return on a $24,139 median debt. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.

View All Graphic Design Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 3 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.

• 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.