2026 Best Value Design And Applied Arts Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Design And Applied Arts doctoral degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 1237 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Grad Degree analyzed schools to compile this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Design And Applied Arts Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Our analysis found Illinois Institute Of Technology to be the best-value Design And Applied Arts school in the United States. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school based in Chicago, IL. Students from in state pay about $52,202 in tuition and fees. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $26,774. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $82,592. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Illinois Institute Of Technology admits about 55% of applicants. More on Illinois Institute Of Technology
You'll get strong value at Auburn University, which ranked #2 this year. Located in Auburn, AL, Auburn University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,890, compared with $34,922 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. Median earnings reach $65,337 ten years out. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Auburn University admits about 46% of applicants. More on Auburn University
You'll get strong value at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, which ranked #3 this year. Located in Minneapolis, MN, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,214 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $24,000. Graduates go on to earn a median of $69,020 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%. Read more about University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Out of the 1237 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Broome Community College landed the #4 spot. Get the full Broome Community College report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of The Ozarks earned it the #5 place in the United States. Get the full College Of The Ozarks report
El Camino Community College District ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. See the full El Camino Community College District profile
Escuela De Artes Plasticas De Puerto Rico landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Escuela De Artes Plasticas De Puerto Rico
Lewis University landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Lewis University
Oakwood University came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Oakwood University
Saint Thomas Aquinas College landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Saint Thomas Aquinas College
Shawnee State University placed #11 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Shawnee State University
Albright College
Albright College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. See the full Albright College profile
Anderson University Sc offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Get the full Anderson University Sc report
Bellarmine University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. More on Bellarmine University
Brigham Young University Hawaii landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Brigham Young University Hawaii
Saint Louis Community College came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. See the full Saint Louis Community College profile
Sheridan College
Sheridan College placed #17 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Read more about Sheridan College
University Of The Incarnate Word placed #18 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. See the full University Of The Incarnate Word profile
Flathead Valley Community College placed #19 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Flathead Valley Community College
Houston Baptist University came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. More on Houston Baptist University
Mesa Community College came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Mesa Community College
Milwaukee Area Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Read the full report on Milwaukee Area Technical College
Ocean County College placed #23 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Ocean County College
Otis College Of Art And Design landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Otis College Of Art And Design report
The University Of Alabama ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. See the full The University Of Alabama profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Design And Applied Arts Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
University Of Missouri Kansas City ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. Get the full University Of Missouri Kansas City report
Clovis Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. More on Clovis Community College
Grand View University ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. See the full Grand View University profile
Lindenwood University placed #29 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. See the full Lindenwood University profile
Los Angeles Pierce College landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Los Angeles Pierce College
Miami Ad School At Portfolio Center offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. Read the full report on Miami Ad School At Portfolio Center
Suny College Of Technology At Canton ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. See the full Suny College Of Technology At Canton profile
Los Angeles Trade Technical College placed #33 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. More on Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Oklahoma City University came in at #34 in this year's value ranking. See the full Oklahoma City University profile
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. More on Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College
The New School
The New School landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. More on The New School
Albany Technical College came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Albany Technical College
Arcadia University offered strong value this year, earning the #38 position. More on Arcadia University
College Of Southern Nevada offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. Read the full report on College Of Southern Nevada
Drury University
Drury University offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. Read more about Drury University
Fresno City College landed the #41 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Fresno City College
Northeast Community College placed #42 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Get the full Northeast Community College report
Saint Cloud State University came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. See the full Saint Cloud State University profile
Edp College Of Puerto Rico Inc San Sebastian offered strong value this year, earning the #44 position. Read the full report on Edp College Of Puerto Rico Inc San Sebastian
Francis Tuttle Technology Center landed the #45 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Francis Tuttle Technology Center
Jacksonville University landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Jacksonville University
West Shore Community College placed #47 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Get the full West Shore Community College report
Daemen College
Daemen College placed #48 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. More on Daemen College
Delta College Of Arts And Technology came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. See the full Delta College Of Arts And Technology profile
Grace College And Theological Seminary came in at #50 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Grace College And Theological Seminary
Related Design And Applied Arts Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Design And Applied Arts Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Design And Applied Arts Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Design And Applied Arts Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Design And Applied Arts Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Design And Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Design And Applied Arts Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Design And Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 1237 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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