2026 Best Value Design And Applied Arts Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Design And Applied Arts graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 1237 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Grad Degree reviewed schools to produce 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 Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Arizona State University Skysong tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Design And Applied Arts graduate certificate degree schools in the United States. This public school is set in Scottsdale, AZ. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,627, with out-of-state students paying around $13,925. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $23,742. Graduates go on to earn a median of $62,668 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%. See the full Arizona State University Skysong profile
Out of the 1237 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Marywood University landed the #2 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Scranton, PA. Students from in state pay about $41,420 in tuition and fees. Typical Design And Applied Arts student debt is $27,362. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,817. Set against $27,362 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted. See the full Marywood University profile
Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #4 on this year's best-value Design And Applied Arts ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Bowling Green, OH. In-state tuition and fees average $13,912, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $47,896. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%. Get the full Bowling Green State University Main Campus report
Mercyhurst College came in at #5 on this year's best-value Design And Applied Arts ranking in the United States. Located in Erie, PA, Mercyhurst College is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,770. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. Median earnings reach $47,452 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%. See the full Mercyhurst College profile
Iowa State University offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. This public school is set in Ames, IA. Students from in state pay about $10,787 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. Iowa State University alumni report median earnings of $63,386 a decade after entry. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted. More on Iowa State University
Michigan State University came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. Located in East Lansing, MI, Michigan State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Typical Design And Applied Arts student debt is $28,175. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $67,253. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted. See the full Michigan State University profile
University Of Kansas offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. This public school is set in Lawrence, KS. Students from in state pay about $12,102 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $30,432. University Of Kansas Design And Applied Arts students take on a median of $26,000 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $61,945 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. University Of Kansas has an acceptance rate of 94%. Get the full University Of Kansas report
California State University Monterey Bay ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. California State University Monterey Bay is a public school based in Seaside, CA. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,779, compared with $20,379 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $14,827 in student loans. California State University Monterey Bay alumni report median earnings of $59,247 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Monterey Bay has an acceptance rate of 97%. Get the full California State University Monterey Bay report
Florida International University placed #10 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. This public school is set in Miami, FL. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Students borrow a median of $19,349 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. Florida International University alumni report median earnings of $60,249 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $19,349 median debt. About 55% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on Florida International University
American University placed #11 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Set in Washington, DC, American University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $58,771 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,139 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $77,370. That is a strong return on a $24,139 median debt. The acceptance rate is 62%. See the full American University profile
University Of Pennsylvania offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. Located in Philadelphia, PA, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,686. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete their Design And Applied Arts program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $111,371 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $16,155 median debt. About 5% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on University Of Pennsylvania
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a public school based in Boston, MA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,400, with out-of-state students paying around $43,400. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $22,500. Median earnings reach $43,582 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design admits about 76% of applicants. Get the full Massachusetts College Of Art And Design report
School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in Chicago, IL, School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $54,623. The median Design And Applied Arts program debt is $27,000. School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago alumni report median earnings of $40,151 a decade after entry. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago admits about 78% of applicants. Read more about School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago
Elizabethtown College placed #14 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. See the full Elizabethtown College profile
Fresno City College placed #15 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Read more about Fresno City College
Guilford College
Guilford College landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Guilford College
Los Angeles City College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. Read the full report on Los Angeles City College
Passaic County Community College placed #18 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. More on Passaic County Community College
Seattle Pacific University offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. Read more about Seattle Pacific University
University Of Nebraska At Kearney offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. See the full University Of Nebraska At Kearney profile
Atlantic Cape Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Get the full Atlantic Cape Community College report
Ferris State University placed #22 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Read more about Ferris State University
Liberty University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. Read the full report on Liberty University
Marist College
Marist College landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Marist College
Moore College Of Art And Design landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Moore College Of Art And Design
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Design And Applied Arts Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Patrick Henry Community College landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Patrick Henry Community College
Texas Christian University ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. Read the full report on Texas Christian University
University Of Miami came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. More on University Of Miami
Aims Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. Read the full report on Aims Community College
Berkeley City College came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Berkeley City College
Metro Technology Centers offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. Get the full Metro Technology Centers report
Minnesota State University Mankato offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. Get the full Minnesota State University Mankato report
North Carolina A And T State University came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. See the full North Carolina A And T State University profile
Thomas Jefferson University landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Thomas Jefferson University
University Of Akron Main Campus placed #35 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Akron Main Campus
West Virginia Wesleyan College ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. See the full West Virginia Wesleyan College profile
Whitman College
Whitman College came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Whitman College
Bucks County Community College landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Bucks County Community College
El Camino Community College District placed #39 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. More on El Camino Community College District
Harford Community College landed the #40 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Harford Community College
Instituto Tecnologico De Puerto Rico Recinto De San Juan came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. See the full Instituto Tecnologico De Puerto Rico Recinto De San Juan profile
Jefferson Community And Technical College came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Jefferson Community And Technical College report
Lakeland Community College ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. Get the full Lakeland Community College report
Marymount Manhattan College offered strong value this year, earning the #44 position. Get the full Marymount Manhattan College report
Mesa Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. Read more about Mesa Community College
Mesa State College ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools. More on Mesa State College
Mount Mary College landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Mount Mary College report
Rasmussen College Wisconsin placed #48 among the best-value Design And Applied Arts schools in the United States. Get the full Rasmussen College Wisconsin report
Ringling College Of Art And Design landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Ringling College Of Art And Design report
Santa Fe Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. Read the full report on Santa Fe Community College
Related Design And Applied Arts Value Rankings
See value rankings for 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 Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Design And Applied Arts Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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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