Best institutions to study Design and Applied Arts
Any instructional program in design and applied arts not listed above.
77 U.S. institutions graduated 1,720 Design and Applied Arts students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 50.0499, a specialization of Design and Applied Arts (CIP 50.04).
About Design and Applied Arts programs
Any instructional program in design and applied arts not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Design and Applied Arts program focuses on various instructional methods in the field of design that are not specifically categorized elsewhere. This program is ideal for students interested in exploring creative design principles and their applications across different mediums. It encompasses a broad range of artistic disciplines, preparing graduates for diverse opportunities in the design industry.
Students in the Design and Applied Arts program engage in coursework that fosters creativity and technical skills. They learn about design principles, materials, and techniques, enabling them to create innovative solutions in visual and applied arts.
Credentials awarded
What Design and Applied Arts graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree1,267 graduates / yr · 46 institutions74%
- Master's degree285 graduates / yr · 26 institutions17%
- Associate's degree111 graduates / yr · 5 institutions6.5%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year31 graduates / yr · 6 institutions1.8%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship14 graduates / yr · 3 institutions0.8%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate9 graduates / yr · 3 institutions0.5%
- Post-master's certificate2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
Graduates over time
Design and Applied Arts completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,376 |
| 2013 | 1,424 |
| 2014 | 1,061 |
| 2015 | 986 |
| 2016 | 1,034 |
| 2017 | 975 |
| 2018 | 1,124 |
| 2019 | 1,111 |
| 2020 | 1,223 |
| 2021 | 1,336 |
| 2022 | 1,488 |
| 2023 | 1,674 |
| 2024 | 1,625 |
| 2025 | 1,720 |
Top 50 institutions for Design and Applied Arts, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Full Sail University Winter Park, FLPrivate for-profitBachelor'sAssociate's | 386 | 44% | $32,163 | $25,479 |
| 2 | San Jose State University San Jose, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 175 | 69% | — | — |
| 3 | Maryland Institute College of Art Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 117 | 72% | $37,659 | $27,246 |
| 4 | The New School New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 94 | 69% | $54,185 | $24,804 |
| 5 | CUNY Queens College Queens, NYPublicBachelor's | 77 | 53% | — | $19,349 |
| 6 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 62 | 93% | — | $57,615 |
| 7 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CAPublicBachelor's | 56 | 69% | — | $37,395 |
| 8 | Oregon State University Corvallis, ORPublicBachelor's | 51 | 70% | — | $35,614 |
| 9 | California State University - Dominguez Hills Carson, CAPublicBachelor's | 45 | 43% | — | — |
| 10 | University of Oregon Eugene, ORPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 41 | 72% | — | $28,844 |
| 11 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento, CAPublicBachelor's | 40 | 56% | — | $32,240 |
| 12 | California State University - San Bernardino San Bernardino, CAPublicBachelor's | 39 | 55% | — | $24,604 |
| 13 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VAPublicBachelor's | 37 | 63% | — | $25,872 |
| 14 | Fashion Institute of Technology New York, NYPublicBachelor's | 31 | 81% | — | $14,361 |
| 15 | Winthrop University Rock Hill, SCPublicBachelor's | 30 | 57% | — | $40,119 |
| 16 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, TNPublicBachelor's | 28 | 58% | — | — |
| 17 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 23 | 89% | — | $44,506 |
| 18 | Otis College of Art and Design Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 22 | 66% | $44,867 | $31,172 |
| 19 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZPublicMaster's | 22 | 0% | — | $35,960 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PAPublicBachelor's | 20 | 86% | — | $43,324 |
| 21 | Southern Methodist University Dallas, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 20 | 84% | $33,246 | — |
| 22 | Colorado College Colorado Springs, COPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 19 | 88% | $23,510 | — |
| 23 | University of the Incarnate Word San Antonio, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 17 | 51% | $21,745 | $27,986 |
| 24 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FLPublicMaster's | 16 | 78% | — | — |
| 25 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 14 | 94% | $14,126 | $33,615 |
| 26 | University of Baltimore Baltimore, MDPublicMaster's | 13 | 38% | — | — |
| 27 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 13 | 84% | $28,851 | $46,181 |
| 28 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 12 | 85% | — | $42,462 |
| 29 | Vincennes University Vincennes, INPublicAssociate's | 11 | 39% | — | — |
| 30 | Lesley University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 11 | 58% | $30,837 | $25,227 |
| 31 | Minneapolis College of Art and Design Minneapolis, MNPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 11 | 51% | $24,998 | $23,687 |
| 32 | Auburn University Auburn, ALPublicDoctoralMaster'sBachelor's | 9 | 82% | — | $46,585 |
| 33 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 8 | 78% | $36,004 | $38,154 |
| 34 | Saint Edward's University Austin, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 63% | $24,630 | $30,589 |
| 35 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CAPublicMaster's | 7 | 50% | — | $34,845 |
| 36 | University of Michigan - Flint Flint, MIPublicBachelor's | 7 | 40% | — | $18,339 |
| 37 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicMaster's | 6 | 68% | — | $35,960 |
| 38 | Washburn University Topeka, KSPublicAssociate's | 6 | 53% | — | — |
| 39 | College for Creative Studies Detroit, MIPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 6 | 71% | $32,153 | $32,665 |
| 40 | Hiram College Hiram, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 55% | $20,210 | — |
| 41 | University of Wisconsin - Stout Menomonie, WIPublicMaster's | 6 | 55% | — | $40,615 |
| 42 | School of the Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 5 | 67% | $48,998 | — |
| 43 | Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralMaster's | 5 | 75% | $19,899 | — |
| 44 | Butler University Indianapolis, INPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 80% | $35,696 | — |
| 45 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KSPublicPost-degree cert. | 5 | 71% | — | $43,992 |
| 46 | University of Maryland - Baltimore County Baltimore, MDPublicMaster's | 5 | 70% | — | $34,020 |
| 47 | Northeastern University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 5 | 91% | $18,925 | $49,727 |
| 48 | Allegheny College Meadville, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 73% | $18,524 | — |
| 49 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, INPublicMaster's | 5 | 83% | — | $44,602 |
| 50 | Marymount Manhattan College New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 49% | $34,258 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Design and Applied Arts field (CIP 50.04) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 30 states
Where Design and Applied Arts graduates come from. Each state links to all Design and Applied Arts programs offered there.
Other Design and Applied Arts specializations
The 9 other 6-digit CIP codes under Design and Applied Arts (CIP 50.04).
- Graphic DesignCIP 50.040910,754 graduates / yr580 institutions
- Design and Visual CommunicationsCIP 50.04016,709 graduates / yr249 institutions
- Interior DesignCIP 50.04085,774 graduates / yr231 institutions
- Fashion/CIP 50.0407
Apparel Design 3,243 graduates / yr119 institutions - IllustrationCIP 50.04103,166 graduates / yr68 institutions
- Commercial and Advertising ArtCIP 50.04023,097 graduates / yr161 institutions
- Game and Interactive Media DesignCIP 50.04112,954 graduates / yr152 institutions
- Industrial and Product DesignCIP 50.04041,432 graduates / yr64 institutions
- Commercial PhotographyCIP 50.0406766 graduates / yr60 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Associate's degree, or a short-term award.
How many colleges offer this program?+
There are 77 colleges in the U.S. offering the Design and Applied Arts program.
What is the typical career path for graduates?+
Graduates can pursue various careers in the design field, utilizing their creative skills.
How many students graduate from this program each year?+
Approximately 1,720 students graduate from the Design and Applied Arts program each year.
What is the CIP code for Design and Applied Arts?+
Design and Applied Arts is CIP 50.0499 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Design and Applied Arts (CIP 50.04). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in design and applied arts not listed above.
How many institutions offer Design and Applied Arts programs?+
77 U.S. institutions reported Design and Applied Arts graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 30 states, awarding 1,720 credentials in the year. That is 4.3% of all Design and Applied Arts graduates.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card