2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in the New England Region

1

Middlesex Community College Bedford
Bedford, MA

Middlesex Community College Bedford tops our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools in the New England Region. Set in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,098 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,170. Students borrow a median of $12,755 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Middlesex Community College Bedford generally make around $48,427. Set against $12,755 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

2

Bristol Community College
Fall River, MA

Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Bristol Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Fall River, Bristol Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,832, while out-of-state students pay about $10,776. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $9,482 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Bristol Community College generally make around $37,897. That is a strong return on a $9,482 median debt.

3

Massachusetts Bay Community College
Wellesley Hills, MA

Massachusetts Bay Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts Bay Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,856, while out-of-state students pay about $10,800. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,008 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Massachusetts Bay Community College generally make around $44,553. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

4

Bunker Hill Community College
Boston, MA

Bunker Hill Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Boston, Bunker Hill Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,168, with out-of-state students paying around $11,112. Students borrow a median of $11,893 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Bunker Hill Community College earn a median of $51,782 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

5

Massasoit Community College
Brockton, MA

Massasoit Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Massasoit Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brockton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,376, while out-of-state students pay about $10,320. Students borrow a median of $10,894 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Massasoit Community College generally make around $42,938. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

6

Rhode Island College
Providence, RI

Rhode Island College earned the #6 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Rhode Island College is a large public school located in the suburb of Providence. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,300, with out-of-state students paying around $27,299. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $23,394 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $45,088. Set against $23,394 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.

7

Capital Community College
New Britain, CT

Capital Community College earned the #7 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Capital Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New Britain. In-state tuition and fees average $5,338, while out-of-state students pay about $15,596. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $12,059 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Capital Community College generally make around $43,086. Set against $12,059 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

8

Central Connecticut State University
New Britain, CT

Central Connecticut State University earned the #8 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of New Britain, Central Connecticut State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,050, while out-of-state students pay about $16,550. Students borrow a median of $22,641 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $34,930. That is a strong return on a $22,641 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.

9

Fitchburg State University
Fitchburg, MA

Fitchburg State University earned the #9 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Fitchburg. In-state tuition and fees average $11,346, compared with $17,426 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Fitchburg State University earn a median of $29,191 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Fitchburg State University admits about 87% of applicants.

10

University Of Massachusetts Lowell
Lowell, MA

University Of Massachusetts Lowell ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,966, with out-of-state students paying around $36,264. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $41,020. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Massachusetts Lowell admits about 83% of applicants.

11

Community College Of Vermont
Montpelier, VT

Community College Of Vermont earned the #11 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the rural area of Montpelier, Community College Of Vermont is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,920 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,640. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $12,125. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $34,182. Set against $12,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

12

Keene State College
Keene, NH

Keene State College came in at #12 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the town of Keene, Keene State College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,784, with out-of-state students paying around $26,840. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $25,371. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $34,947. That is a strong return on a $25,371 median debt. Keene State College admits about 90% of applicants.

13

Manchester Community College Nh
Manchester, NH

Manchester Community College Nh ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Manchester, Manchester Community College Nh is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,090, while out-of-state students pay about $15,340. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,063.

14

University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth
North Dartmouth, MA

University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth landed the #14 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,612, while out-of-state students pay about $32,567. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $29,660. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth admits about 91% of applicants.

15

Vermont Technical College
Randolph, VT

Vermont Technical College placed #15 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the rural area of Randolph, Vermont Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,952, while out-of-state students pay about $22,296. Students borrow a median of $24,208 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $41,822. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Vermont Technical College admits about 82% of applicants.

16

Massachusetts College Of Art And Design
Boston, MA

Massachusetts College Of Art And Design earned the #16 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Boston, Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,400 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $43,400. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $24,706. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.

17

Husson University
Bangor, ME

Husson University landed the #17 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Husson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bangor. Students from in state pay about $23,304 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,735 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $52,868. That is a strong return on a $27,735 median debt. Husson University admits about 81% of applicants.

18

Boston University
Boston, MA

Boston University came in at #18 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,102. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Boston University earn a median of $49,254 early in their careers. Set against $21,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.

19

Lasell College
Newton, MA

Lasell College landed the #19 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the city of Newton, Lasell College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,040. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Lasell College generally make around $29,661. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.

20

Yale University
New Haven, CT

Yale University placed #20 among the best values for design & applied arts. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. In-state tuition and fees average $67,250. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.

21

Suffolk University
Boston, MA

Suffolk University placed #21 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Boston, Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,550. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $27,000. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $47,415. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Suffolk University admits about 82% of applicants.

22

University Of Hartford
West Hartford, CT

University Of Hartford landed the #22 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the city of West Hartford, University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $49,075. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Hartford earn a median of $29,515 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.

23

Northeastern University
Boston, MA

Northeastern University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,162. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $28,250. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $49,727. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northeastern University admits about 5% of applicants.

24

Lesley University
Cambridge, MA

Lesley University landed the #24 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,256. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Lesley University earn a median of $25,227 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.

25

New England College
Henniker, NH

New England College came in at #25 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the rural area of Henniker, New England College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $27,474. Students borrow a median of $35,038 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from New England College generally make around $68,950. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New England College admits about 92% of applicants.