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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in New York

12 Colleges in the United States
$19,232 Avg Student Debt
$53,088 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Graphic Design Badge [Graphic Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/graphic-design/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

College Factual analyzed 33 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value graphic design schools.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in New York

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the graphic design degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Graphic Design Schools

1

Our analysis ranked Cuny Lehman College the best value for a degree in graphic design in New York. Cuny Lehman College is a large public school located in the city of Bronx. In-state tuition and fees average $7,410, with out-of-state students paying around $15,360. Graphic Design graduates carry a median of $13,213 in student loans. Graphic Design graduates of Cuny Lehman College earn a median of $54,729 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,213 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.

2

Students looking for strong value in graphic design will find it at Suffolk County Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,630, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $9,132. Early-career graphic design graduates make about $24,907. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

3

A rank of #3 makes Cuny Queens College one of the best values for graphic design. Set in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,538 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,488. Students borrow a median of $17,625 to complete the graphic design program here. Early-career graphic design graduates make about $19,349. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.

4

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Monroe Community College earned it the #4 place for graphic design. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Monroe Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,006 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,056 for out-of-state students. Graphic Design graduates carry a median of $10,250 in student loans. Early-career graphic design graduates make about $27,718. Set against $10,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

5

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mohawk Valley Community College earned it the #5 place for graphic design. Located in the city of Utica, Mohawk Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,218, with out-of-state students paying around $8,851. Students borrow a median of $9,534 to complete the graphic design program here. Graphic Design graduates of Mohawk Valley Community College earn a median of $21,012 early in their careers. Set against $9,534 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

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6

Rockland Community College earned the #6 position for value in graphic design this year. Located in the suburb of Suffern, Rockland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,862. Students borrow a median of $11,167 to complete the graphic design program here. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from Rockland Community College generally make around $41,799. That is a strong return on a $11,167 median debt.

7

Suny College At Buffalo landed the #7 spot for graphic design value this year. Set in the city of Buffalo, Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,533, compared with $19,653 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,257 to complete the graphic design program here. Early-career graphic design graduates make about $39,412. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny College At Buffalo admits about 73% of applicants.

8

Villa Maria College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value graphic design schools. Villa Maria College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Buffalo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,670. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $15,395. Graphic Design graduates of Villa Maria College earn a median of $31,909 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,395 median debt. Villa Maria College admits about 87% of applicants.

9

Finger Lakes Community College placed #9 among the best values for graphic design. Finger Lakes Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Canandaigua. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,258, compared with $8,442 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,736 to complete the graphic design program here. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from Finger Lakes Community College generally make around $40,467. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

10

Suny College Of Technology At Alfred earned the #10 position for value in graphic design this year. Located in the rural area of Alfred, Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,892, compared with $16,837 for out-of-state students. Graphic Design graduates carry a median of $19,721 in student loans. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from Suny College Of Technology At Alfred generally make around $43,831. That is a strong return on a $19,721 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.

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11

Suny College Of Technology At Canton earned the #11 position for value in graphic design this year. Located in the town of Canton, Suny College Of Technology At Canton is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,742 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,769. Graphic Design graduates carry a median of $23,640 in student loans. Early-career graphic design graduates make about $46,515. That is a strong return on a $23,640 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.

12

Suny College At Brockport landed the #12 spot for graphic design value this year. Suny College At Brockport is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Brockport. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,752, compared with $15,822 for out-of-state students. Graphic Design graduates carry a median of $24,757 in student loans. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from Suny College At Brockport generally make around $39,724. That is a strong return on a $24,757 median debt. Suny College At Brockport admits about 71% of applicants.

13

Suny College At Oswego came in at #13 for value in graphic design this year. Set in the town of Oswego, Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,825, while out-of-state students pay about $18,735. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $26,530. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from Suny College At Oswego generally make around $32,546. Set against $26,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.

14

State University Of New York At New Paltz earned the #14 position for value in graphic design this year. Located in the town of New Paltz, State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,572, while out-of-state students pay about $18,822. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $22,879. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from State University Of New York At New Paltz generally make around $34,677. Set against $22,879 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.

15

Suny At Purchase College came in at #15 for value in graphic design this year. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,016, while out-of-state students pay about $19,266. Graphic Design graduates carry a median of $23,689 in student loans. Early-career graphic design graduates make about $23,182. That is a strong return on a $23,689 median debt. Suny At Purchase College admits about 74% of applicants.

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16

Fashion Institute Of Technology came in at #16 for value in graphic design this year. Set in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,174, while out-of-state students pay about $22,696. Graphic Design graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Early-career graphic design graduates make about $20,692. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.

17

St Johns University New York earned the #17 position for value in graphic design this year. St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Queens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,529. Graphic Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Graphic Design graduates of St Johns University New York earn a median of $57,686 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. St Johns University New York admits about 83% of applicants.

18

Rochester Institute Of Technology came in at #18 for value in graphic design this year. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,210. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $27,000. Graphic Design graduates of Rochester Institute Of Technology earn a median of $34,709 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.

19
Pratt Institute Main crest
Pratt Institute Main
Brooklyn, NY

Pratt Institute Main earned the #19 position for value in graphic design this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,845. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the graphic design program here. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from Pratt Institute Main generally make around $40,880. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Pratt Institute Main admits about 73% of applicants.

20
The New School crest
The New School
New York, NY

The New School earned the #20 position for value in graphic design this year. Located in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $58,730 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,606 to complete the graphic design program here. Graphic Design graduates of The New School earn a median of $36,279 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The New School admits about 64% of applicants.

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 33 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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