by our College Data Analytics Team
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 191 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for design & applied arts students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in design & applied arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in design & applied arts, no school beat Moorpark College this year. Set in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,075 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $105,599. That is a strong return on a $17,075 median debt.
San Diego Mesa College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,999 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from San Diego Mesa College generally make around $29,852. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Canada College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Canada College is a large public school located in the suburb of Redwood City. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $11,384. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $106,691. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Irvine Valley College earned it the #4 place for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, compared with $11,860 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $6,672 in student loans. Median earnings reach $49,156 ten years out. Set against $6,672 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Canyons is a great value for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,166, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. Set against $9,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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West Valley College placed #6 among the best values for design & applied arts. West Valley College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $0, compared with $9,320 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $14,308 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $25,378. Set against $14,308 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saddleback College came in at #7 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,432, with out-of-state students paying around $14,812. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $5,707. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Saddleback College generally make around $15,890. Set against $5,707 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cerritos College placed #8 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,004. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $11,306. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Cerritos College generally make around $29,495. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
Mt San Antonio College landed the #9 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Students borrow a median of $9,384 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $44,391 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,384 median debt.
California State University Fullerton landed the #10 spot for design & applied arts value this year. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $20,070. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $15,525. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $54,471. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
College Of The Sequoias came in at #11 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,394 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,038. Students borrow a median of $10,288 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $37,749. That is a strong return on a $10,288 median debt.
California State University Dominguez Hills earned the #12 position for value in design & applied arts this year. California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public school located in the city of Carson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,454, compared with $20,054 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $12,688. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $52,683. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Santa Monica College earned the #13 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,156, compared with $10,708 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,193 ten years after entry.
Santiago Canyon College earned the #14 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,164, while out-of-state students pay about $9,612. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $5,500. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $34,100. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Pasadena City College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,924 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Pasadena City College generally make around $38,841. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fresno City College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,638 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $7,234 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $37,470. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Diego City College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. San Diego City College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. In-state tuition and fees average $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $9,514 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $26,218. That is a strong return on a $9,514 median debt.
De Anza College earned the #18 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Cupertino, De Anza College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,571, with out-of-state students paying around $12,596. Students borrow a median of $7,271 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $56,596. That is a strong return on a $7,271 median debt.
Santa Rosa Junior College placed #19 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,318 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,308 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $14,692. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $80,047 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Riverside City College earned the #20 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,428 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,498 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $8,767 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $37,102. Set against $8,767 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Las Positas College came in at #21 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Livermore, Las Positas College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,168, compared with $9,808 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $51,088.
Orange Coast College landed the #22 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Orange Coast College is a very large public school located in the city of Costa Mesa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,392, while out-of-state students pay about $11,640. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $8,978 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of $46,306 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,978 median debt.
Clover Park Technical College earned the #23 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Lakewood, Clover Park Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,634 in tuition and fees. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $15,154 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $42,209. That is a strong return on a $15,154 median debt.
Cypress College earned the #24 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Cypress, Cypress College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,150 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,379. Median earnings reach $43,533 ten years out.
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology came in at #25 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Kirkland, Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,997 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,062. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $19,695. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $60,000. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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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 · 191 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 51 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
