Design & Applied Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 138 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best design & applied arts schools.
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San Jose State University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in design & applied arts. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 210 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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A rank of #2 makes Chapman University one of the top schools for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 35 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Chapman University in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Chapman University earn around $46,519 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #3 makes University Of Southern California one of the top schools for design & applied arts. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 110 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $64,846. Typical student debt for the program is $18,262.
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California State University Fullerton came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 50 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $54,471. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from California State University Fullerton
A rank of #5 makes University Of California Davis one of the top schools for design & applied arts. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Davis. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 249 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $32,816. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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University Of California Los Angeles ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. 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. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 58 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data 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.
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San Francisco State University placed #7 among the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 198 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $34,845. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans.
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California State University Long Beach landed the #8 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. California State University Long Beach awarded about 99 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $37,395 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,215.
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Point Loma Nazarene University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. Point Loma Nazarene University awarded about 22 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Point Loma Nazarene University generally make around $54,116. Typical student debt for the program is $22,542.
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University Of California San Diego landed the #10 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 31 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $60,797 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,787 to complete this degree.
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California State University Sacramento landed the #11 spot for design & applied arts this year. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Sacramento awarded about 81 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $32,240 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete this degree.
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Concordia University Irvine came in at #12 for design & applied arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Irvine. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Concordia University Irvine awarded about 10 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Concordia University Irvine earn around $58,590 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,085.
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University Of California Santa Cruz ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Santa Cruz awarded about 147 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of California Santa Cruz earn around $40,920 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,559 to complete this degree.
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California State University Monterey Bay came in at #14 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public institution. About 59% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 42 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University Monterey Bay in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from California State University Monterey Bay generally make around $30,378. Typical student debt for the program is $14,827.
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University Of San Francisco came in at #15 for design & applied arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Francisco. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of San Francisco generally make around $32,070. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete this degree.
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Santa Rosa Junior College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa Junior College awarded about 72 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $80,047 in their early career. Santa Rosa Junior College graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans.
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Azusa Pacific University placed #17 among the best design & applied arts schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Azusa. About 62% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Azusa Pacific University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $58,302 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,709 to complete this degree.
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California State University Chico came in at #18 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 99 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University Chico in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of California State University Chico earn a median of $27,573 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,047 to complete this degree.
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California State Polytechnic University Pomona ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. About 68% of students finish within six years. California State Polytechnic University Pomona awarded about 121 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $30,065 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,160 to complete this degree.
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Diablo Valley College came in at #20 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Diablo Valley College is a very large public institution. Diablo Valley College awarded about 29 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Diablo Valley College earn around $27,813 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,205.
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Moorpark College landed the #21 spot for design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. There were roughly 40 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Moorpark College in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Moorpark College earn a median of $105,599 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,075.
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Art Center College Of Design placed #22 among the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Pasadena, Art Center College Of Design is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. Art Center College Of Design awarded about 230 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $47,053 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $31,050 to complete this degree.
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California State University Northridge landed the #23 spot for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Northridge. California State University Northridge graduates 57% of students within six years. California State University Northridge awarded about 13 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $36,736. California State University Northridge graduates carry a median of $16,202 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from California State University Northridge
Orange Coast College placed #24 among the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public university. About 74 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Orange Coast College in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of $46,306 early in their careers. Orange Coast College graduates carry a median of $8,978 in student loans.
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Foothill College earned the #25 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 29 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Foothill College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Foothill College generally make around $94,152. Students borrow a median of $11,595 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Design & Applied Arts Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong design & applied arts education:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 138 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).
