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Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in 2026

290 schools ranked by DegreeWorth Score · Updated 2026

These are the top schools offering Design & Applied Arts, ranked by DegreeWorth Score. The score combines graduate earnings, AI automation resilience, job market demand, and return on tuition investment. The average Design & Applied Arts graduate earns $33,862/yr across 290 schools.

Programs Ranked

290

Avg Earnings

$33,862/yr

Avg DW Score

48/100

AI Risk

High

42% task exposure

All Design & Applied Arts Programs Ranked

Click any row for full AI scenario analysis, earnings projections, and career path breakdown.

#	Program	DW Score	Earnings	AI Risk	ROI
1	Design & Applied Arts University of Washington-Seattle Campus · Seattle, WA	72 69–73	$63,449/yr	High	15.9x
2	Design & Applied Arts Florida State University · Tallahassee, FL	72 68–73	$49,144/yr	High	22.2x
3	Design & Applied Arts Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus · Atlanta, GA	70 65–74	$52,694/yr	High	18.3x
4	Design & Applied Arts Bellevue College · Bellevue, WA	71 67–73	$45,947/yr	High	25.7x
5	Design & Applied Arts University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA	69 65–72	$57,615/yr	High	14.6x
6	Design & Applied Arts University of Florida · Gainesville, FL	69 64–72	$43,144/yr	High	27.8x
7	Design & Applied Arts Seminole State College of Florida · Sanford, FL	68 63–69	$39,221/yr	High	29.4x
8	Design & Applied Arts University of Houston · Houston, TX	68 64–69	$47,461/yr	High	15.5x
9	Design & Applied Arts The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, TX	66 59–71	$44,506/yr	High	17.8x
10	Design & Applied Arts North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC	67 63–68	$44,930/yr	High	16.2x
11	Design & Applied Arts Weber State University · Ogden, UT	66 62–68	$40,507/yr	High	20.5x
12	Design & Applied Arts California State University-Long Beach · Long Beach, CA	64 59–67	$37,395/yr	High	23.2x
13	Design & Applied Arts University of South Florida · Tampa, FL	65 61–67	$38,938/yr	High	20.4x
14	Design & Applied Arts University of Cincinnati-Main Campus · Cincinnati, OH	66 63–67	$52,526/yr	High	11.8x
15	Design & Applied Arts University of Central Oklahoma · Edmond, OK	65 62–67	$42,619/yr	High	16.4x
16	Design & Applied Arts East Carolina University · Greenville, NC	65 61–66	$39,992/yr	High	17.3x
17	Design & Applied Arts University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI	66 64–66	$49,780/yr	High	12.1x
18	Design & Applied Arts San Francisco State University · San Francisco, CA	62 56–66	$34,845/yr	High	22.9x
19	Design & Applied Arts Georgia Southern University · Statesboro, GA	65 62–65	$39,355/yr	High	15.7x
20	Design & Applied Arts Ohio State University-Main Campus · Columbus, OH	62 58–65	$45,176/yr	High	12.5x
21	Design & Applied Arts Texas State University · San Marcos, TX	63 59–65	$44,396/yr	High	12.6x
22	Design & Applied Arts Purdue University-Main Campus · West Lafayette, IN	64 62–64	$44,602/yr	High	12.4x
23	Design & Applied Arts University of North Carolina at Greensboro · Greensboro, NC	63 60–63	$38,858/yr	High	15.0x
24	Design & Applied Arts Western Carolina University · Cullowhee, NC	62 57–64	$32,842/yr	High	27.5x
25	Design & Applied Arts West Virginia University · Morgantown, WV	62 57–65	$39,847/yr	High	14.9x
26	Design & Applied Arts The University of Alabama · Tuscaloosa, AL	61 59–62	$44,215/yr	High	11.2x
27	Design & Applied Arts Auburn University · Auburn, AL	62 60–63	$46,585/yr	High	10.7x
28	Design & Applied Arts California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA	62 58–63	$36,736/yr	High	16.5x
29	Design & Applied Arts Metropolitan State University of Denver · Denver, CO	60 55–64	$39,450/yr	High	13.9x
30	Design & Applied Arts Brigham Young University · Provo, UT	61 56–64	$33,915/yr	High	21.8x
31	Design & Applied Arts Washington State University · Pullman, WA	61 58–63	$44,823/yr	High	10.9x
32	Design & Applied Arts Bellevue University · Bellevue, NE	61 58–61	$39,313/yr	High	12.7x
33	Design & Applied Arts Appalachian State University · Boone, NC	60 55–63	$34,722/yr	High	17.2x
34	Design & Applied Arts Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · Blacksburg, VA	60 57–62	$46,761/yr	High	9.6x
35	Design & Applied Arts Arkansas State University · Jonesboro, AR	59 56–60	$35,970/yr	High	14.1x
36	Design & Applied Arts State University of New York at New Paltz · New Paltz, NY	58 53–62	$34,677/yr	High	16.0x
37	Design & Applied Arts North Dakota State University-Main Campus · Fargo, ND	60 58–60	$41,846/yr	High	10.7x
38	Design & Applied Arts Miami University-Oxford · Oxford, OH	59 55–61	$47,295/yr	High	8.4x
39	Design & Applied Arts Sam Houston State University · Huntsville, TX	61 58–61	$39,959/yr	High	12.1x
40	Design & Applied Arts Utah Valley University · Orem, UT	59 54–61	$31,888/yr	High	19.2x
41	Design & Applied Arts University of Wisconsin-Stout · Menomonie, WI	60 58–61	$40,615/yr	High	11.7x
42	Design & Applied Arts University of Central Arkansas · Conway, AR	62 60–61	$43,106/yr	High	9.7x
43	Design & Applied Arts California State University-Sacramento · Sacramento, CA	58 52–61	$32,240/yr	High	17.7x
44	Design & Applied Arts University of Delaware · Newark, DE	57 53–61	$42,585/yr	High	10.0x
45	Design & Applied Arts Iowa State University · Ames, IA	57 54–60	$37,565/yr	High	12.1x
46	Design & Applied Arts University of Northern Iowa · Cedar Falls, IA	59 56–60	$38,637/yr	High	12.0x
47	Design & Applied Arts Kansas State University · Manhattan, KS	61 60–61	$43,992/yr	High	9.1x
48	Design & Applied Arts University of Kentucky · Lexington, KY	58 55–60	$42,168/yr	High	9.9x
49	Design & Applied Arts Clemson University · Clemson, SC	59 57–60	$46,689/yr	High	8.3x
50	Design & Applied Arts University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point · Stevens Point, WI	62 60–61	$41,243/yr	High	10.7x
51	Design & Applied Arts University of Arkansas · Fayetteville, AR	61 59–60	$41,782/yr	High	9.7x
52	Design & Applied Arts San Diego State University · San Diego, CA	56 50–60	$31,459/yr	High	16.2x
53	Design & Applied Arts Fashion Institute of Technology · New York, NY	56 49–60	$27,023/yr	High	22.7x
54	Design & Applied Arts Portland State University · Portland, OR	56 50–61	$35,304/yr	High	13.2x
55	Design & Applied Arts Kutztown University of Pennsylvania · Kutztown, PA	58 56–58	$40,286/yr	High	10.2x
56	Design & Applied Arts South Dakota State University · Brookings, SD	57 54–59	$35,944/yr	High	12.6x
57	Design & Applied Arts The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · Chattanooga, TN	61 59–60	$41,968/yr	High	9.3x
58	Design & Applied Arts Utah State University · Logan, UT	70 67–70	$52,431/yr	High	4.6x
59	Design & Applied Arts Western Washington University · Bellingham, WA	55 47–60	$31,078/yr	High	16.4x
60	Design & Applied Arts California State University-Monterey Bay · Seaside, CA	56 50–60	$30,378/yr	High	17.9x
61	Design & Applied Arts University of North Georgia · Dahlonega, GA	56 51–60	$26,823/yr	High	22.9x
62	Design & Applied Arts Arizona State University Campus Immersion · Tempe, AZ	55 50–59	$35,960/yr	High	12.1x
63	Design & Applied Arts California State Polytechnic University-Pomona · Pomona, CA	55 50–59	$30,065/yr	High	16.5x
64	Design & Applied Arts University of Kansas · Lawrence, KS	56 52–59	$37,508/yr	High	11.2x
65	Design & Applied Arts Western Michigan University · Kalamazoo, MI	55 50–59	$39,077/yr	High	10.0x
66	Design & Applied Arts University of Minnesota-Twin Cities · Minneapolis, MN	56 52–58	$42,462/yr	High	8.3x
67	Design & Applied Arts Minnesota State University Moorhead · Moorhead, MN	57 55–57	$38,587/yr	High	10.1x
68	Design & Applied Arts Park University · Parkville, MO	57 56–58	$46,340/yr	High	6.1x
69	Design & Applied Arts North Carolina A & T State University · Greensboro, NC	56 52–57	$30,470/yr	High	15.4x
70	Design & Applied Arts University of Akron Main Campus · Akron, OH	56 53–56	$39,856/yr	High	8.6x
71	Design & Applied Arts Ohio University-Eastern Campus · Saint Clairsville, OH	54 47–59	$24,716/yr	High	20.6x
72	Design & Applied Arts Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus · Chillicothe, OH	54 47–59	$24,716/yr	High	20.6x
73	Design & Applied Arts Ohio University-Southern Campus · Ironton, OH	54 47–59	$24,716/yr	High	20.6x
74	Design & Applied Arts Ohio University-Lancaster Campus · Lancaster, OH	54 47–59	$24,716/yr	High	20.6x
75	Design & Applied Arts Ohio University-Zanesville Campus · Zanesville, OH	54 47–59	$24,716/yr	High	20.6x
76	Design & Applied Arts Middle Tennessee State University · Murfreesboro, TN	58 57–57	$38,807/yr	High	9.2x
77	Design & Applied Arts University of Wisconsin-Parkside · Kenosha, WI	59 57–58	$36,920/yr	High	10.8x
78	Design & Applied Arts Pennsylvania College of Technology · Williamsport, PA	56 54–57	$45,572/yr	High	5.4x
79	Design & Applied Arts Interior Designers Institute · Newport Beach, CA	58 56–59	$51,188/yr	High	3.0x
80	Design & Applied Arts University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA	55 52–56	$64,846/yr	High	1.9x
81	Design & Applied Arts Wentworth Institute of Technology · Boston, MA	54 51–56	$50,599/yr	High	3.1x
82	Design & Applied Arts University of Nebraska-Lincoln · Lincoln, NE	57 56–56	$38,585/yr	High	8.5x
83	Design & Applied Arts Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA	56 53–56	$66,274/yr	High	1.6x
84	Design & Applied Arts Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus · Indiana, PA	54 49–56	$34,981/yr	High	10.9x
85	Design & Applied Arts Temple University · Philadelphia, PA	54 50–57	$43,530/yr	High	6.2x
86	Design & Applied Arts University of North Texas · Denton, TX	53 48–56	$33,867/yr	High	11.4x
87	Design & Applied Arts Wichita State University · Wichita, KS	54 51–55	$33,590/yr	High	11.1x
88	Design & Applied Arts Northeastern University · Boston, MA	52 47–56	$49,727/yr	High	2.8x
89	Design & Applied Arts Central Michigan University · Mount Pleasant, MI	53 49–55	$36,917/yr	High	8.9x
90	Design & Applied Arts Bemidji State University · Bemidji, MN	59 57–58	$40,231/yr	High	7.6x
91	Design & Applied Arts Kean University · Union, NJ	53 48–56	$35,673/yr	High	10.0x
92	Design & Applied Arts Farmingdale State College · Farmingdale, NY	51 45–56	$27,827/yr	High	14.0x
93	Design & Applied Arts State University of New York at Oswego · Oswego, NY	53 50–55	$32,546/yr	High	11.4x
94	Design & Applied Arts Kent State University at Kent · Kent, OH	53 49–55	$36,351/yr	High	9.1x
95	Design & Applied Arts University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus · Norman, OK	57 55–56	$37,755/yr	High	8.8x
96	Design & Applied Arts Winthrop University · Rock Hill, SC	53 51–55	$40,119/yr	High	7.2x
97	Design & Applied Arts The University of Tennessee-Knoxville · Knoxville, TN	52 48–55	$36,061/yr	High	9.4x
98	Design & Applied Arts University of Wisconsin-Green Bay · Green Bay, WI	54 52–55	$32,991/yr	High	11.6x
99	Design & Applied Arts Oregon State University-Cascades Campus · Bend, OR	53 49–55	$35,614/yr	High	9.6x
100	Design & Applied Arts Art Center College of Design · Pasadena, CA	52 47–55	$47,053/yr	High	2.9x
101	Design & Applied Arts California State University-Chico · Chico, CA	51 46–55	$27,573/yr	High	13.5x
102	Design & Applied Arts California State University-Fresno · Fresno, CA	50 43–56	$23,160/yr	High	15.6x
103	Design & Applied Arts Central Connecticut State University · New Britain, CT	52 48–55	$34,930/yr	High	9.7x
104	Design & Applied Arts University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL	51 45–57	$34,670/yr	High	9.9x
105	Design & Applied Arts University of Massachusetts-Lowell · Lowell, MA	53 51–54	$41,020/yr	High	5.2x
106	Design & Applied Arts Eastern Michigan University · Ypsilanti, MI	52 49–54	$38,443/yr	High	7.4x
107	Design & Applied Arts University of Central Missouri · Warrensburg, MO	53 50–53	$33,921/yr	High	10.0x
108	Design & Applied Arts Missouri Western State University · Saint Joseph, MO	56 54–55	$37,200/yr	High	8.5x
109	Design & Applied Arts Oregon State University · Corvallis, OR	52 48–54	$35,614/yr	High	8.9x
110	Design & Applied Arts Northern Arizona University · Flagstaff, AZ	51 47–54	$33,964/yr	High	9.7x
111	Design & Applied Arts University of California-Davis · Davis, CA	49 43–55	$32,816/yr	High	10.1x
112	Design & Applied Arts Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University · Tallahassee, FL	51 47–54	$23,504/yr	High	14.8x
113	Design & Applied Arts Illinois State University · Normal, IL	52 50–53	$39,287/yr	High	5.1x
114	Design & Applied Arts Ball State University · Muncie, IN	54 52–54	$36,864/yr	High	7.6x
115	Design & Applied Arts University of Notre Dame · Notre Dame, IN	50 45–53	$46,825/yr	High	2.3x
116	Design & Applied Arts Suffolk University · Boston, MA	52 48–53	$47,415/yr	High	2.4x
117	Design & Applied Arts Michigan State University · East Lansing, MI	51 47–53	$36,784/yr	High	7.5x
118	Design & Applied Arts Missouri State University-Springfield · Springfield, MO	53 51–52	$33,695/yr	High	9.4x
119	Design & Applied Arts Bowling Green State University-Main Campus · Bowling Green, OH	51 47–53	$35,645/yr	High	8.2x
120	Design & Applied Arts Grand Canyon University · Phoenix, AZ	51 48–52	$38,976/yr	High	4.6x
121	Design & Applied Arts California State University-San Bernardino · San Bernardino, CA	49 43–53	$24,604/yr	High	12.8x
122	Design & Applied Arts Chapman University · Orange, CA	50 45–52	$46,519/yr	High	2.1x
123	Design & Applied Arts Boise State University · Boise, ID	51 48–51	$31,083/yr	High	10.2x
124	Design & Applied Arts Keene State College · Keene, NH	50 46–53	$34,947/yr	High	8.2x
125	Design & Applied Arts CUNY Queens College · Queens, NY	47 39–55	$19,349/yr	High	14.0x
126	Design & Applied Arts The College of Saint Rose · Albany, NY	51 47–52	$43,418/yr	High	3.0x
127	Design & Applied Arts Radford University · Radford, VA	50 47–52	$34,096/yr	High	8.6x
128	Design & Applied Arts Seattle Pacific University · Seattle, WA	49 43–53	$39,248/yr	High	4.2x
129	Design & Applied Arts University of Illinois Chicago · Chicago, IL	49 46–52	$34,377/yr	High	7.8x
130	Design & Applied Arts Boston University · Boston, MA	50 46–51	$49,254/yr	High	0.9x
131	Design & Applied Arts Saint Cloud State University · Saint Cloud, MN	52 51–52	$34,627/yr	High	7.6x
132	Design & Applied Arts Maryville University of Saint Louis · Saint Louis, MO	50 46–51	$39,623/yr	High	3.5x
133	Design & Applied Arts Southern New Hampshire University · Manchester, NH	49 46–51	$35,878/yr	High	6.6x
134	Design & Applied Arts New Jersey Institute of Technology · Newark, NJ	51 48–52	$38,975/yr	High	4.1x
135	Design & Applied Arts CUNY New York City College of Technology · Brooklyn, NY	47 41–53	$21,445/yr	High	13.2x
136	Design & Applied Arts University of Dayton · Dayton, OH	49 45–51	$43,609/yr	High	2.2x
137	Design & Applied Arts East Tennessee State University · Johnson City, TN	52 50–52	$34,177/yr	High	7.6x
138	Design & Applied Arts University of Maryland-Baltimore County · Baltimore, MD	49 46–50	$34,020/yr	High	6.5x
139	Design & Applied Arts Endicott College · Beverly, MA	48 43–51	$39,271/yr	High	3.2x
140	Design & Applied Arts Ferris State University · Big Rapids, MI	49 46–50	$34,045/yr	High	6.9x
141	Design & Applied Arts Dunwoody College of Technology · Minneapolis, MN	50 47–51	$40,302/yr	High	2.9x
142	Design & Applied Arts Syracuse University · Syracuse, NY	49 45–51	$46,181/yr	High	1.6x
143	Design & Applied Arts Longwood University · Farmville, VA	49 46–50	$35,612/yr	High	4.9x
144	Design & Applied Arts Arizona State University Digital Immersion · Scottsdale, AZ	48 44–50	$35,960/yr	High	—
145	Design & Applied Arts Louisiana Tech University · Ruston, LA	47 44–49	$29,146/yr	High	9.1x
146	Design & Applied Arts University of Nevada-Las Vegas · Las Vegas, NV	50 49–50	$31,702/yr	High	7.7x
147	Design & Applied Arts SUNY at Fredonia · Fredonia, NY	44 37–52	$19,451/yr	High	11.5x
148	Design & Applied Arts University of Oregon · Eugene, OR	45 39–52	$28,844/yr	High	9.4x
149	Design & Applied Arts Susquehanna University · Selinsgrove, PA	47 43–49	$42,510/yr	High	1.8x
150	Design & Applied Arts Black Hills State University · Spearfish, SD	50 48–49	$31,022/yr	High	7.6x
151	Design & Applied Arts Kennesaw State University · Kennesaw, GA	51 49–50	$25,839/yr	High	10.2x
152	Design & Applied Arts Samford University · Birmingham, AL	48 45–49	$41,323/yr	High	1.7x
153	Design & Applied Arts Arkansas Tech University · Russellville, AR	44 38–50	$20,285/yr	High	10.9x
154	Design & Applied Arts Harding University · Searcy, AR	47 43–48	$35,582/yr	High	3.6x
155	Design & Applied Arts Indiana University-Bloomington · Bloomington, IN	45 39–50	$26,421/yr	High	9.6x
156	Design & Applied Arts Saginaw Valley State University · University Center, MI	45 40–49	$27,577/yr	High	9.1x
157	Design & Applied Arts University of Minnesota-Duluth · Duluth, MN	46 42–48	$31,337/yr	High	6.6x
158	Design & Applied Arts Rasmussen University-Minnesota · St. Cloud, MN	49 47–49	$32,482/yr	High	6.5x
159	Design & Applied Arts Rasmussen University-North Dakota · Fargo, ND	47 45–48	$32,482/yr	High	5.4x
160	Design & Applied Arts Rasmussen University-Wisconsin · Green Bay, WI	48 46–49	$32,482/yr	High	5.8x
161	Design & Applied Arts Flagler College · Saint Augustine, FL	45 41–47	$34,236/yr	High	3.6x
162	Design & Applied Arts Rasmussen University-Florida · Ocala, FL	46 43–47	$32,482/yr	High	4.4x
163	Design & Applied Arts University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth · North Dartmouth, MA	45 40–48	$29,660/yr	High	7.1x
164	Design & Applied Arts Oakland University · Rochester Hills, MI	45 42–48	$30,687/yr	High	6.8x
165	Design & Applied Arts Baylor University · Waco, TX	45 41–47	$39,333/yr	High	1.9x
166	Design & Applied Arts Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus · Gurabo, PR	41 32–55	$7,580/yr	High	10.5x
167	Design & Applied Arts Rasmussen University-Illinois · Rockford, IL	47 44–48	$32,482/yr	High	5.0x
168	Design & Applied Arts Rasmussen University-Kansas · Topeka, KS	46 43–47	$32,482/yr	High	4.3x
169	Design & Applied Arts Newschool of Architecture and Design · San Diego, CA	46 43–47	$37,132/yr	High	2.1x
170	Design & Applied Arts Judson University · Elgin, IL	46 43–47	$37,466/yr	High	2.0x
171	Design & Applied Arts Montclair State University · Montclair, NJ	43 37–47	$26,027/yr	High	7.9x
172	Design & Applied Arts Rutgers University-New Brunswick · New Brunswick, NJ	45 42–46	$32,397/yr	High	3.7x
173	Design & Applied Arts Cedarville University · Cedarville, OH	44 40–47	$35,768/yr	High	2.7x
174	Design & Applied Arts Cleveland State University · Cleveland, OH	43 38–47	$24,959/yr	High	8.1x
175	Design & Applied Arts Ohio University-Main Campus · Athens, OH	43 37–49	$24,716/yr	High	8.7x
176	Design & Applied Arts Drexel University · Philadelphia, PA	44 39–47	$38,154/yr	High	1.8x
177	Design & Applied Arts Thomas Jefferson University · Philadelphia, PA	43 39–46	$36,433/yr	High	2.1x
178	Design & Applied Arts Bob Jones University · Greenville, SC	47 44–48	$36,424/yr	High	2.3x
179	Design & Applied Arts Champlain College · Burlington, VT	45 41–46	$38,264/yr	High	1.8x
180	Design & Applied Arts Carthage College · Kenosha, WI	44 40–47	$35,511/yr	High	2.8x
181	Design & Applied Arts Purdue University Fort Wayne · Fort Wayne, IN	45 44–46	$27,517/yr	High	6.4x
182	Design & Applied Arts University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne · Fort Wayne, IN	44 40–45	$35,439/yr	High	2.3x
183	Design & Applied Arts University of Louisiana at Lafayette · Lafayette, LA	45 43–46	$28,206/yr	High	5.8x
184	Design & Applied Arts Fitchburg State University · Fitchburg, MA	45 43–46	$29,191/yr	High	5.6x
185	Design & Applied Arts Massachusetts College of Art and Design · Boston, MA	42 36–47	$24,706/yr	High	7.7x
186	Design & Applied Arts Concordia University-Saint Paul · Saint Paul, MN	45 42–45	$34,384/yr	High	2.4x
187	Design & Applied Arts University of Northwestern-St Paul · Saint Paul, MN	45 42–46	$37,966/yr	High	1.6x
188	Design & Applied Arts LIM College · New York, NY	42 37–46	$31,885/yr	High	3.4x
189	Design & Applied Arts Pratt Institute-Main · Brooklyn, NY	42 37–45	$36,040/yr	High	1.8x
190	Design & Applied Arts Oklahoma Christian University · Edmond, OK	43 38–46	$31,466/yr	High	3.8x
191	Design & Applied Arts York College of Pennsylvania · York, PA	43 38–46	$30,567/yr	High	4.4x
192	Design & Applied Arts Anderson University · Anderson, SC	43 39–45	$34,040/yr	High	2.6x
193	Design & Applied Arts Coastal Carolina University · Conway, SC	43 39–45	$26,076/yr	High	6.9x
194	Design & Applied Arts Abilene Christian University · Abilene, TX	45 42–46	$38,553/yr	High	1.3x
195	Design & Applied Arts The University of Texas at Dallas · Richardson, TX	43 38–46	$26,629/yr	High	7.1x
196	Design & Applied Arts Liberty University · Lynchburg, VA	43 38–45	$30,019/yr	High	4.3x
197	Design & Applied Arts Marymount University · Arlington, VA	42 37–46	$33,180/yr	High	2.9x
198	Design & Applied Arts Saint Norbert College · De Pere, WI	44 41–45	$37,856/yr	High	1.1x
199	Design & Applied Arts Design Institute of San Diego · San Diego, CA	44 41–44	$34,589/yr	High	1.9x
200	Design & Applied Arts Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design · Lakewood, CO	42 37–44	$29,829/yr	High	3.8x
201	Design & Applied Arts Upper Iowa University · Fayette, IA	43 40–44	$31,122/yr	High	3.1x
202	Design & Applied Arts Mississippi College · Clinton, MS	43 40–44	$32,020/yr	High	2.7x
203	Design & Applied Arts Russell Sage College · Troy, NY	43 39–44	$35,294/yr	High	1.8x
204	Design & Applied Arts Meredith College · Raleigh, NC	43 40–44	$36,357/yr	High	1.6x
205	Design & Applied Arts Shawnee State University · Portsmouth, OH	43 40–44	$24,375/yr	High	7.0x
206	Design & Applied Arts Virginia Commonwealth University · Richmond, VA	42 37–45	$25,872/yr	High	6.6x
207	Design & Applied Arts Quinnipiac University · Hamden, CT	41 38–43	$35,884/yr	High	0.7x
208	Design & Applied Arts Lasell University · Newton, MA	41 37–43	$29,661/yr	High	3.2x
209	Design & Applied Arts Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute · Troy, NY	41 38–43	$36,191/yr	High	0.5x
210	Design & Applied Arts Rochester Institute of Technology · Rochester, NY	41 36–43	$34,709/yr	High	1.4x
211	Design & Applied Arts University of Advancing Technology · Tempe, AZ	43 40–44	$30,640/yr	High	2.9x
212	Design & Applied Arts Los Angeles Film School · Hollywood, CA	41 37–43	$26,583/yr	High	—
213	Design & Applied Arts University of Bridgeport · Bridgeport, CT	40 36–42	$31,207/yr	High	2.3x
214	Design & Applied Arts DePaul University · Chicago, IL	39 34–43	$30,536/yr	High	2.4x
215	Design & Applied Arts College for Creative Studies · Detroit, MI	40 35–43	$32,665/yr	High	1.9x
216	Design & Applied Arts University of Michigan-Flint · Flint, MI	39 34–43	$18,339/yr	High	6.1x
217	Design & Applied Arts William Peace University · Raleigh, NC	42 38–42	$33,536/yr	High	1.5x
218	Design & Applied Arts Western Oregon University · Monmouth, OR	41 38–42	$23,583/yr	High	4.3x
219	Design & Applied Arts Albright College · Reading, PA	40 36–42	$29,793/yr	High	2.9x
220	Design & Applied Arts Southern Arkansas University Main Campus · Magnolia, AR	41 38–42	$22,016/yr	High	4.6x
221	Design & Applied Arts Academy of Art University · San Francisco, CA	37 30–43	$20,829/yr	High	4.2x
222	Design & Applied Arts Laguna College of Art and Design · Laguna Beach, CA	38 33–42	$27,785/yr	High	2.9x
223	Design & Applied Arts Otis College of Art and Design · Los Angeles, CA	38 33–42	$31,172/yr	High	1.9x
224	Design & Applied Arts University of San Francisco · San Francisco, CA	39 34–42	$32,070/yr	High	1.8x
225	Design & Applied Arts Full Sail University · Winter Park, FL	38 33–41	$25,479/yr	High	3.2x
226	Design & Applied Arts Columbia College Chicago · Chicago, IL	39 35–42	$29,630/yr	High	2.5x
227	Design & Applied Arts Grand View University · Des Moines, IA	38 32–42	$26,996/yr	High	3.0x
228	Design & Applied Arts Marist College · Poughkeepsie, NY	37 32–42	$28,336/yr	High	2.6x
229	Design & Applied Arts Nazareth University · Rochester, NY	40 37–41	$33,461/yr	High	1.0x
230	Design & Applied Arts SUNY Polytechnic Institute · Utica, NY	41 38–42	$20,252/yr	High	4.9x
231	Design & Applied Arts Queens University of Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	39 35–41	$31,611/yr	High	1.8x
232	Design & Applied Arts Robert Morris University · Moon Township, PA	39 34–42	$29,488/yr	High	2.6x
233	Design & Applied Arts University of the Incarnate Word · San Antonio, TX	38 33–41	$27,986/yr	High	2.7x
234	Design & Applied Arts Nossi College of Art and Design · Nashville, TN	39 34–42	$24,497/yr	High	3.9x
235	Design & Applied Arts Northwest College of Art & Design · Tacoma, WA	41 37–42	$27,694/yr	High	2.8x
236	Design & Applied Arts John Brown University · Siloam Springs, AR	37 32–42	$24,893/yr	High	3.1x
237	Design & Applied Arts Woodbury University · Burbank, CA	39 35–40	$32,175/yr	High	0.8x
238	Design & Applied Arts Taylor University · Upland, IN	39 36–40	$31,921/yr	High	1.0x
239	Design & Applied Arts Stevenson University · Owings Mills, MD	37 32–41	$27,969/yr	High	2.4x
240	Design & Applied Arts Emmanuel College · Boston, MA	39 35–40	$32,413/yr	High	0.7x
241	Design & Applied Arts Lesley University · Cambridge, MA	37 32–41	$25,227/yr	High	2.9x
242	Design & Applied Arts Washington University in St Louis · Saint Louis, MO	39 35–41	$33,615/yr	High	0.3x
243	Design & Applied Arts Baldwin Wallace University · Berea, OH	39 36–40	$31,749/yr	High	1.1x
244	Design & Applied Arts Mercyhurst University · Erie, PA	37 32–41	$28,267/yr	High	2.3x
245	Design & Applied Arts Rhode Island School of Design · Providence, RI	37 32–41	$29,489/yr	High	1.9x
246	Design & Applied Arts Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design · Milwaukee, WI	37 33–41	$28,801/yr	High	2.2x
247	Design & Applied Arts California College of the Arts · San Francisco, CA	36 31–40	$28,673/yr	High	1.7x
248	Design & Applied Arts North Central College · Naperville, IL	37 32–40	$28,037/yr	High	2.1x
249	Design & Applied Arts St Catherine University · Saint Paul, MN	38 34–39	$31,547/yr	High	0.6x
250	Design & Applied Arts Kansas City Art Institute · Kansas City, MO	37 33–40	$29,513/yr	High	1.7x
251	Design & Applied Arts Lubbock Christian University · Lubbock, TX	39 36–40	$29,479/yr	High	1.7x
252	Design & Applied Arts Saint Edward's University · Austin, TX	37 33–39	$30,589/yr	High	1.1x
253	Design & Applied Arts Mount Mary University · Milwaukee, WI	38 35–39	$30,053/yr	High	1.6x
254	Design & Applied Arts University of Denver · Denver, CO	37 33–39	$31,104/yr	High	0.3x
255	Design & Applied Arts University of Hartford · West Hartford, CT	37 33–39	$29,515/yr	High	1.3x
256	Design & Applied Arts Bradley University · Peoria, IL	35 29–40	$22,893/yr	High	2.5x
257	Design & Applied Arts Maine College of Art & Design · Portland, ME	36 33–38	$29,001/yr	High	1.3x
258	Design & Applied Arts Berkeley College-Woodland Park · Woodland Park, NJ	37 35–38	$27,937/yr	High	1.4x
259	Design & Applied Arts Rider University · Lawrenceville, NJ	37 34–38	$29,445/yr	High	0.9x
260	Design & Applied Arts Columbus College of Art & Design · Columbus, OH	36 32–38	$27,970/yr	High	1.6x
261	Design & Applied Arts Marywood University · Scranton, PA	35 31–39	$25,727/yr	High	2.1x
262	Design & Applied Arts Belmont University · Nashville, TN	37 33–39	$28,702/yr	High	1.5x
263	Design & Applied Arts Walla Walla University · College Place, WA	37 34–38	$28,436/yr	High	1.2x
264	Design & Applied Arts California Baptist University · Riverside, CA	36 33–38	$28,669/yr	High	0.8x
265	Design & Applied Arts Ringling College of Art and Design · Sarasota, FL	35 31–38	$28,137/yr	High	1.0x
266	Design & Applied Arts Maryland Institute College of Art · Baltimore, MD	35 30–38	$27,246/yr	High	1.4x
267	Design & Applied Arts Assumption University · Worcester, MA	35 31–37	$28,032/yr	High	0.4x
268	Design & Applied Arts Centenary University · Hackettstown, NJ	35 32–37	$26,569/yr	High	1.4x
269	Design & Applied Arts The New School · New York, NY	34 29–38	$24,804/yr	High	1.7x
270	Design & Applied Arts New England Institute of Technology · East Greenwich, RI	36 32–37	$27,383/yr	High	0.9x
271	Design & Applied Arts University of Silicon Valley · San Jose, CA	35 32–36	$22,656/yr	High	1.5x
272	Design & Applied Arts FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising · Los Angeles, CA	35 32–37	$26,479/yr	High	0.9x
273	Design & Applied Arts University of New Haven · West Haven, CT	34 31–36	$26,425/yr	High	0.4x
274	Design & Applied Arts Clark Atlanta University · Atlanta, GA	34 30–36	$20,974/yr	High	1.7x
275	Design & Applied Arts Savannah College of Art and Design · Savannah, GA	34 30–37	$23,400/yr	High	1.7x
276	Design & Applied Arts Minneapolis College of Art and Design · Minneapolis, MN	34 29–37	$23,687/yr	High	1.6x
277	Design & Applied Arts Pennsylvania College of Art and Design · Lancaster, PA	35 32–36	$25,830/yr	High	1.1x
278	Design & Applied Arts American Academy of Art College · Chicago, IL	32 28–35	$19,537/yr	High	1.3x
279	Design & Applied Arts Roosevelt University · Chicago, IL	34 31–35	$19,028/yr	High	1.3x
280	Design & Applied Arts Montserrat College of Art · Beverly, MA	33 28–36	$19,865/yr	High	1.4x
281	Design & Applied Arts Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus · Teaneck, NJ	34 31–36	$24,357/yr	High	0.7x
282	Design & Applied Arts Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus · Madison, NJ	34 31–36	$24,357/yr	High	0.7x
283	Design & Applied Arts School of Visual Arts · New York, NY	32 27–38	$15,985/yr	High	1.6x
284	Design & Applied Arts Art Academy of Cincinnati · Cincinnati, OH	33 28–35	$20,921/yr	High	1.3x
285	Design & Applied Arts Moore College of Art and Design · Philadelphia, PA	32 28–36	$20,587/yr	High	1.3x
286	Design & Applied Arts University of the Arts · Philadelphia, PA	33 28–36	$21,765/yr	High	1.2x
287	Design & Applied Arts Dominican University · River Forest, IL	33 29–35	$22,938/yr	High	0.5x
288	Design & Applied Arts Webster University · Saint Louis, MO	33 29–34	$20,257/yr	High	0.6x
289	Design & Applied Arts Cleveland Institute of Art · Cleveland, OH	33 29–35	$23,358/yr	High	0.2x
290	Design & Applied Arts Pacific Northwest College of Art · Portland, OR	32 28–35	$19,501/yr	High	0.9x

Methodology

Programs are ranked by DegreeWorth Score, which combines four equally weighted factors: graduate earnings (Year 1 after graduation), AI automation resilience (based on OpenAI and academic research), job market size (BLS annual openings), and earnings-to-tuition multiple (10-year projected earnings vs. 4-year tuition).

Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which reports actual median earnings of graduates — not self-reported surveys.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Design & Applied Arts?

Based on our DegreeWorth Score, University of Washington-Seattle Campus ranks #1 for Design & Applied Arts with a score of 72/100 and graduate earnings of $63,449/yr.

How much do Design & Applied Arts graduates earn?

Across 290 schools, Design & Applied Arts graduates earn an average of $33,862/yr in their first year. The highest-earning program reports $66,274/yr.

Is Design & Applied Arts a good major for AI resistance?

Design & Applied Arts has an average AI task exposure of 42%, rated "High". This field has moderate AI exposure — some career paths are more resilient than others.

Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Last updated 2025.