Design & Applied Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 1237 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best design & applied arts schools.
Translate your creative ideas through concept, design and digital media with a bachelor's in graphic design online from Southern New Hampshire University.
Take the first step toward a career of visual expression and doing what you love with this online associate degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Learn to create a striking portfolio and hone the skills you need to succeed in the world of professional photography with this online digital photography degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
The design & applied arts program you select can have a big impact on your future. To help, we created our Best Design & Applied Arts Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Design & Applied Arts Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Translate your creative ideas through concept, design and digital media with a bachelor's in graphic design online from Southern New Hampshire University.
Take the first step toward a career of visual expression and doing what you love with this online associate degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Learn to create a striking portfolio and hone the skills you need to succeed in the world of professional photography with this online digital photography degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
San Jose State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 210 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from San Jose State University
A rank of #2 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the top schools for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 132 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data 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. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $20,875 in student loans.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at University Of Wisconsin Madison
Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at University Of Washington Seattle Campus, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. About 36 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $63,449 in their early career. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $12,250 in student loans.
Get the full design & applied arts details for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Chapman University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. Chapman University awarded about 35 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Chapman University earn a median of $46,519 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full design & applied arts details for Chapman University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus 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 University Park. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. About 26 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of Southern California landed the #6 spot for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. University Of Southern California awarded about 110 design & applied arts degrees 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.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at University Of Southern California
The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #7 spot for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 131 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $44,506. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans.
Get the full design & applied arts details for The University Of Texas At Austin
University Of Florida ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 71 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $43,144 in their early career. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $19,839 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from University Of Florida
California State University Fullerton landed the #9 spot for design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 50 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at California State University Fullerton in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $54,471 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,525.
See the full design & applied arts program report for California State University Fullerton
North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 68 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn around $48,940 in the first couple years of their career. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #11 among the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 78 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $46,761 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,802.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
University Of Notre Dame landed the #12 spot for design & applied arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Notre Dame. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. University Of Notre Dame awarded about 21 design & applied arts degrees 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. University Of Notre Dame graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from University Of Notre Dame
Lehigh University earned the #13 position for design & applied arts this year. Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Lehigh University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Lehigh University generally make around $70,321. Typical student debt for the program is $23,008.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Lehigh University
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #14 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 68 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $44,602 in their early career. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Purdue University Main Campus
Worcester Polytechnic Institute earned the #15 position for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 90% of students finish within six years. Worcester Polytechnic Institute awarded about 20 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $91,834 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,259 to complete this degree.
Get the full design & applied arts details for Worcester Polytechnic Institute
University Of California Davis earned the #16 position for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Davis. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. About 249 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of California Davis earn around $32,816 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for University Of California Davis
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. About 88% of students finish within six years. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 53 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $45,176 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,100 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of California Los Angeles landed the #18 spot for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. About 58 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $57,615. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from University Of California Los Angeles
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities landed the #19 spot for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 128 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn around $42,462 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
University Of Pennsylvania ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. About 16 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $99,682 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Dayton came in at #21 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. University Of Dayton awarded about 31 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $43,609 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from University Of Dayton
Boston University came in at #22 for design & applied arts this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 59 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $49,254. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Boston University
Illinois State University placed #23 among the best design & applied arts schools. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. About 32 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $39,287 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,986 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Illinois State University
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 127 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $52,526 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,851 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Texas Christian University placed #25 among the best design & applied arts schools. Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 45 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Texas Christian University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Texas Christian University generally make around $60,035. Texas Christian University graduates carry a median of $22,960 in student loans.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Texas Christian University
Rest of the Top 50 Design & Applied Arts Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong design & applied arts education:
Get on the right path to the fast-paced, exciting world of video game art and design with this online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
Gain a solid grounding in your online web design classes and exercise your creative muscle with this specialized online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 1237 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).
