2026 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in District of Columbia

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.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools to find the best for design & applied arts students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in District of Columbia

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Featured Design & Applied Arts Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts

Translate your creative ideas through concept, design and digital media with a bachelor's in graphic design online from Southern New Hampshire University.

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AA in Digital Photography

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.

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BA in Digital Photography

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.

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Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in District of Columbia

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the design & applied arts degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Design & Applied Arts

1

George Washington University
Washington, DC

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

48 Design & Applied Arts Degrees Awarded

$54,222 Median Starting Salary

No school ranked higher than George Washington University this year for design & applied arts. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 48 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $54,222. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete this degree. See the full design & applied arts program report for George Washington University

2

American University
Washington, DC

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

22 Design & Applied Arts Degrees Awarded

$54,585 Median Starting Salary

American University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at American University in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of American University earn a median of $54,585 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,139. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from American University

Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 3 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.