Design & Applied Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their design & applied arts programs.
College Factual analyzed 196 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best design & applied arts schools.
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University Of Notre Dame is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in design & applied arts. University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 21 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $46,825 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,250.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. There were roughly 132 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $49,780 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,875.
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A rank of #3 makes Purdue University Main Campus one of the top schools for design & applied arts. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 68 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $44,602 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,250.
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Ohio State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in design & applied arts, ranking #4. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 53 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $45,176 in the first couple years of their career. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,100 in student loans.
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University Of Dayton is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in design & applied arts, ranking #5. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Dayton. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 31 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Dayton in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Dayton earn a median of $43,609 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete this degree.
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University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #6 position for design & applied arts this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 127 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn around $52,526 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,851 to complete this degree.
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Illinois State University came in at #7 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. 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. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $24,986 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #8 for design & applied arts this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 62 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $34,670. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $18,839 in student loans.
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Loyola University Chicago came in at #9 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $58,568 in their early career. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans.
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Miami University Oxford ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 26 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Miami University Oxford in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $47,295 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Northwestern University earned the #11 position for design & applied arts this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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Indiana University Bloomington earned the #12 position for design & applied arts this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 67 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $26,421 in their early career. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $21,064 in student loans.
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Madison Area Technical College came in at #13 for design & applied arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Madison. Madison Area Technical College awarded about 86 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $30,710 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete this degree.
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Ball State University placed #14 among the best design & applied arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Muncie. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. About 61 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Ball State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $36,864. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete this degree.
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Kent State University At Kent ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. About 297 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Kent State University At Kent in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Kent State University At Kent earn around $36,351 in the first couple years of their career. Kent State University At Kent graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Depaul University landed the #16 spot for design & applied arts this year. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 55 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Depaul University in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $30,536 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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College Of Dupage earned the #17 position for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. College Of Dupage awarded about 91 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from College Of Dupage earn around $31,798 in the first couple years of their career. College Of Dupage graduates carry a median of $11,077 in student loans.
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Western Michigan University earned the #18 position for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. Western Michigan University graduates 58% of students within six years. About 57 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Western Michigan University in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Western Michigan University earn around $39,077 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point came in at #19 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. About 28 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $41,243. Typical student debt for the program is $23,684.
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Michigan State University landed the #20 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. About 135 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $36,784 in their early career. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $28,175 in student loans.
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Lawrence Technological University landed the #21 spot for design & applied arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Southfield. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 23 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Lawrence Technological University in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Lawrence Technological University earn a median of $74,924 early in their careers. Lawrence Technological University graduates carry a median of $27,799 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #22 among the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 70 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $34,377 in their early career. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans.
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Aurora University placed #23 among the best design & applied arts schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Aurora. About 60% of students finish within six years. Aurora University awarded about 12 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Aurora University earn a median of $51,483 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,507 to complete this degree.
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Fox Valley Technical College came in at #24 for design & applied arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Appleton. There were roughly 48 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Fox Valley Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $32,673 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,582 to complete this degree.
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Northeastern Illinois University placed #25 among the best design & applied arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Chicago. Northeastern Illinois University graduates 22% of students within six years. About 18 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Northeastern Illinois University earn around $49,254 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,600 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Design & Applied Arts Schools
These schools also placed among the best for design & applied arts this year:
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 · 196 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).
