Best Design and Applied Arts Programs in the Northeast
Updated
Part of Best Art & Design Colleges in the Northeast
This page ranks the 67 Design and Applied Arts programs in the Northeast by the median earnings of Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing. Carnegie Mellon University ranks 1st on this list, reporting median earnings of $138,588 for its graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed programs, the figure ranges from $138,588 to $21,964, with a median of $51,857. For 7 of the 67 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
The list includes 22 public and 45 private nonprofit institutions. CUNY Queens College posts the lowest average net price on the page, at $4,195.
Rutgers University-New Brunswick ranks 30th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA | $138,588 | $31,944 | $9,097 | 11.7% |
| Carnegie Mellon University reports median earnings of $138,588 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 12%. | |||||
| 2 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute · Troy, NY | $87,358 | $36,228 | $24,078 | 63.5% |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranks 2nd on this list, with a median of $25,000 in federal debt among Design and Applied Arts completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 3 | Northeastern University · Boston, MA | $87,336 | $30,915 | $2,264 | 5.2% |
| A private nonprofit university in Boston, Northeastern University posts an average net price of $30,915 and a 5% admission rate. | |||||
| 4 | Boston University · Boston, MA | $72,809 | $24,402 | $9,500 | 11.1% |
| Boston University shows median earnings of $72,809 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing, with 25 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 5 | Syracuse University · Syracuse, NY | $71,527 | $38,793 | $15,817 | 45.9% |
| Syracuse University carries a median federal debt of $27,000 among Design and Applied Arts completers who borrowed, and ranks 497th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 6 | Wentworth Institute of Technology · Boston, MA | $68,160 | $34,170 | $27,018 | 91.2% |
| Wentworth Institute of Technology admits 91% of applicants and reports median earnings of $68,160 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 7 | Rhode Island School of Design · Providence, RI | $67,771 | $50,507 | $29,135 | 18.7% |
| Rhode Island School of Design ranks 7th on this list, with an average net price of $50,507 and a median of $27,000 in federal debt among Design and Applied Arts completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 8 | New Jersey Institute of Technology · Newark, NJ | $66,488 | $16,504 | $10,138 | 65.1% |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology, a public university in Newark, posts median earnings of $66,488 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 9 | Drexel University · Philadelphia, PA | $66,294 | $38,509 | $28,055 | 79.4% |
| Drexel University reports 169 graduates in the earnings cohort, with a median of $27,000 in federal debt among Design and Applied Arts completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 10 | Marist University · Poughkeepsie, NY | $66,010 | $41,544 | $26,083 | 56.5% |
| Marist University ranks 987th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Design and Applied Arts graduates earn a median of $66,010 four years after completing. | |||||
| 11 | Endicott College · Beverly, MA | $64,559 | $40,654 | $29,780 | 71.2% |
| Endicott College admits 71% of applicants and carries a median federal debt of $27,000 among Design and Applied Arts completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 12 | St. John's University-New York · Queens, NY | $63,659 | $29,999 | $27,787 | 83.4% |
| St. John's University-New York reports median earnings of $63,659 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $29,999. | |||||
| 13 | Emmanuel College · Boston, MA | $63,616 | $26,706 | $20,399 | 75.7% |
| Emmanuel College reports median earnings of $63,616 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $26,706. | |||||
| 14 | Quinnipiac University · Hamden, CT | $61,419 | $40,675 | $33,649 | 72.2% |
| Quinnipiac University admits 72% of applicants and its Design and Applied Arts completers who borrowed left with a median federal debt of $26,000. | |||||
| 15 | Temple University · Philadelphia, PA | $60,782 | $28,198 | $22,694 | 80.4% |
| A public university in Philadelphia, Temple University ranks 15th on this list with median earnings of $60,782 four years after completing. | |||||
| 16 | Suffolk University · Boston, MA | $60,159 | $29,618 | $24,745 | 82.3% |
| Suffolk University shows an average net price of $24,745 for families earning under $30,000, and its Design and Applied Arts graduates earn a median of $60,159 four years after completing. | |||||
| 17 | Pratt Institute-Main · Brooklyn, NY | $59,792 | $52,659 | $38,545 | 73.3% |
| With 273 graduates in the earnings cohort, Pratt Institute-Main posts median earnings of $59,792 and a median federal debt of $26,000 among Design and Applied Arts completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 18 | Thomas Jefferson University · Philadelphia, PA | $59,731 | $28,928 | $22,537 | 81.0% |
| Thomas Jefferson University ranks 181st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $59,731 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 19 | Susquehanna University · Selinsgrove, PA | $59,551 | $28,819 | $19,757 | 81.4% |
| Susquehanna University admits 81% of applicants and carries an average net price of $28,819. | |||||
| 20 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus · University Park, PA | $58,105 | $32,875 | $19,845 | 60.6% |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus reports median earnings of $58,105 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing, with a median federal debt of $25,625 among Design and Applied Arts completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 21 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick · New Brunswick, NJ | $57,313 | $24,406 | $16,343 | 58.2% |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick ranks 30th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Design and Applied Arts graduates earn a median of $57,313 four years after completing. | |||||
| 22 | Central Connecticut State University · New Britain, CT | $57,214 | $16,857 | $13,589 | 73.3% |
| Central Connecticut State University lists an average net price of $13,589 for families earning under $30,000 and a median federal debt of $21,500 among Design and Applied Arts completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 23 | The New School · New York, NY | $56,838 | $58,741 | $50,140 | 63.5% |
| The New School reports 476 graduates in the earnings cohort, with median earnings of $56,838 four years after completing and an average net price of $58,741. | |||||
| 24 | Kean University · Union, NJ | $56,666 | $12,447 | $7,374 | 75.9% |
| Kean University admits 76% of applicants and its Design and Applied Arts graduates earn a median of $56,666 four years after completing. | |||||
| 25 | Montclair State University · Montclair, NJ | $56,176 | $15,566 | $10,880 | 87.9% |
| Montclair State University reports $56,176 in median earnings for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $15,566. | |||||
| 26 | Mercy University · Dobbs Ferry, NY | $54,725 | $14,072 | $11,974 | 85.8% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at Mercy University left with a median of $19,637 in federal loans, and the school's Design and Applied Arts graduates earned a median of $54,725 four years after completing. | |||||
| 27 | Champlain College · Burlington, VT | $54,561 | $35,860 | $28,885 | 82.9% |
| Champlain College ranks 946th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Design and Applied Arts graduates posted median earnings of $54,561 four years after completing. | |||||
| 28 | Farmingdale State College · Farmingdale, NY | $53,896 | $10,867 | $4,933 | 63.3% |
| With an admission rate of 63%, Farmingdale State College reports median earnings of $53,896 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 29 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania · Kutztown, PA | $53,312 | $21,331 | $15,957 | 90.8% |
| Kutztown University of Pennsylvania's Design and Applied Arts completers who borrowed left with a median of $27,000 in federal loans, and the program's median earnings four years after completing reached $53,312. | |||||
| 30 | CUNY New York City College of Technology · Brooklyn, NY | $52,562 | $5,127 | $3,810 | 80.3% |
| CUNY New York City College of Technology posts an average net price of $5,127 and median earnings of $52,562 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 31 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania · Indiana, PA | $52,359 | $16,804 | $12,364 | 90.8% |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania ranks 31st on this list, with median earnings of $52,359 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 32 | York College of Pennsylvania · York, PA | $52,222 | $18,556 | $12,927 | 73.7% |
| York College of Pennsylvania admits 74% of applicants, and its Design and Applied Arts graduates earned a median of $52,222 four years after completing. | |||||
| 33 | Rochester Institute of Technology · Rochester, NY | $52,043 | $34,906 | $24,680 | 66.9% |
| Rochester Institute of Technology's Design and Applied Arts completers who borrowed left with a median of $26,646 in federal loans, while the program's median earnings four years after completing reached $52,043. | |||||
| 34 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth · North Dartmouth, MA | $51,857 | $20,927 | $15,976 | 90.6% |
| University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth reports median earnings of $51,857 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $20,927. | |||||
| 35 | University of Hartford · West Hartford, CT | $51,607 | $30,282 | $25,925 | 95.8% |
| An average net price of $30,282 coincides with median earnings of $51,607 for Design and Applied Arts graduates at University of Hartford four years after completing. | |||||
| 36 | Seton Hall University · South Orange, NJ | $51,509 | $31,446 | $19,623 | 73.3% |
| Seton Hall University posts an admission rate of 73% and median earnings of $51,509 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 37 | Albright College · Reading, PA | $51,507 | $20,024 | $16,345 | 76.3% |
| Albright College reports $51,507 in median earnings for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $20,024. | |||||
| 38 | Russell Sage College · Troy, NY | $51,485 | $22,917 | $6,662 | 53.3% |
| Russell Sage College admits 53% of applicants and its Design and Applied Arts completers who borrowed left with a median of $24,250 in federal loans. | |||||
| 39 | Rider University · Lawrenceville, NJ | $51,406 | $24,792 | $15,824 | 78.6% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at Rider University left with a median of $26,130 in federal loans, and the school ranks 852nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 40 | State University of New York at New Paltz · New Paltz, NY | $51,273 | $18,809 | $10,541 | 61.6% |
| A public university in New Paltz, State University of New York at New Paltz posts an average net price of $10,541 for families earning under $30,000 and a 30-graduate earnings cohort. | |||||
| 41 | Centenary University · Hackettstown, NJ | $50,746 | $20,503 | $13,329 | 83.1% |
| Centenary University ranks 41st on this list, with median earnings of $50,746 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 42 | Keene State College · Keene, NH | $50,507 | $17,887 | $12,192 | 90.3% |
| Keene State College reports a median of $24,250 in federal debt among Design and Applied Arts completers who borrowed, and its admission rate is 90%. | |||||
| 43 | Villa Maria College · Buffalo, NY | $48,379 | $13,494 | $13,049 | 86.6% |
| With an average net price of $13,494, Villa Maria College shows median earnings of $48,379 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 44 | University of Bridgeport · Bridgeport, CT | $47,973 | $27,807 | $27,238 | 83.0% |
| University of Bridgeport ranks 700th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Design and Applied Arts completers who borrowed left with a median of $27,000 in federal loans. | |||||
| 45 | Massachusetts College of Art and Design · Boston, MA | $45,716 | $24,100 | $16,351 | 76.3% |
| Massachusetts College of Art and Design reports a 110-graduate earnings cohort and median earnings of $45,716 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 46 | Mercyhurst University · Erie, PA | $45,411 | $19,444 | $22,626 | 81.0% |
| Mercyhurst University admits 81% of applicants and posts an average net price of $22,626 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 47 | Lesley University · Cambridge, MA | $45,099 | $31,152 | $24,799 | 96.9% |
| Lesley University reports median earnings of $45,099 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing, with a median federal debt of $23,333 among Design and Applied Arts completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 48 | State University of New York at Oswego · Oswego, NY | $44,939 | $16,236 | $8,714 | 80.6% |
| State University of New York at Oswego ranks 337th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing earn a median of $44,939. | |||||
| 49 | CUNY Queens College · Queens, NY | $44,835 | $4,195 | $1,541 | 64.4% |
| CUNY Queens College carries an average net price of $4,195, the lowest on this list, and reports median earnings of $44,835 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 50 | Robert Morris University · Moon Township, PA | $43,698 | $23,003 | $19,548 | 89.9% |
| Robert Morris University ranks 50th on this list with median earnings of $43,698 four years after completing, alongside a median federal debt of $27,000 among Design and Applied Arts completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 51 | SUNY at Fredonia · Fredonia, NY | $43,087 | $15,897 | $9,395 | 77.7% |
| A public university in Fredonia, SUNY at Fredonia admits 78% of applicants and posts median earnings of $43,087 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 52 | Fitchburg State University · Fitchburg, MA | $42,946 | $14,262 | $10,204 | 86.9% |
| Fitchburg State University reports a median of $42,946 in earnings four years after completing, with a cohort of 33 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 53 | Nazareth University · Rochester, NY | $42,615 | $29,357 | $22,796 | 74.7% |
| Nazareth University shows an average net price of $29,357 and median earnings of $42,615 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 54 | New England College · Henniker, NH | $42,056 | $26,972 | $25,598 | 92.1% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left New England College with a median of $26,000 in federal loans, while its Design and Applied Arts graduates earned a median of $42,056 four years after completing. | |||||
| 55 | Stonehill College · Easton, MA | $41,789 | $33,016 | $23,605 | 66.3% |
| Stonehill College ranks 55th on this list, with an admission rate of 66% and median earnings of $41,789 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 56 | Pennsylvania Western University · California, PA | $40,854 | $18,256 | $13,944 | 94.3% |
| Pennsylvania Western University reports median earnings of $40,854 four years after completing, and a median federal debt of $27,000 among Design and Applied Arts completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 57 | Maine College of Art & Design · Portland, ME | $39,443 | $38,338 | $31,589 | 76.1% |
| Maine College of Art & Design posts an average net price of $38,338 and median earnings of $39,443 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 58 | Arcadia University · Glenside, PA | $39,369 | $29,466 | $23,127 | 80.2% |
| Arcadia University admits 80% of applicants and reports median earnings of $39,369 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 59 | Moore College of Art and Design · Philadelphia, PA | $38,831 | $43,086 | $34,834 | 56.5% |
| Moore College of Art and Design ranks 59th on this list, with a median federal debt of $27,000 among Design and Applied Arts completers who borrowed and median earnings of $38,831 four years after completing. | |||||
| 60 | Pennsylvania College of Art and Design · Lancaster, PA | $38,275 | $30,083 | $24,547 | 99.2% |
| Pennsylvania College of Art and Design admits 99% of applicants and reports median earnings of $38,275 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 61 | Assumption University · Worcester, MA | $35,954 | $29,498 | $19,885 | 83.0% |
| Assumption University reports $35,954 in median earnings for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $29,498. | |||||
| 62 | SUNY Buffalo State University · Buffalo, NY | $35,864 | $11,346 | $7,405 | 73.0% |
| A public university in Buffalo, SUNY Buffalo State University ranks 62nd on this list and posts an admission rate of 73%. | |||||
| 63 | Marywood University · Scranton, PA | $35,823 | $23,388 | $18,941 | 60.6% |
| Marywood University ranks 960th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Design and Applied Arts graduates earned a median of $35,823 four years after completing. | |||||
| 64 | Montserrat College of Art · Beverly, MA | $33,496 | $33,216 | $25,388 | Not reported |
| Montserrat College of Art shows median federal debt of $27,000 among Design and Applied Arts completers who borrowed, with an average net price of $25,388 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 65 | Lasell University · Newton, MA | $32,379 | $27,511 | $18,334 | 81.2% |
| Lasell University ranks 65th on this list, and its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing earned a median of $32,379. | |||||
| 66 | University of New Haven · West Haven, CT | $31,975 | $34,192 | $27,837 | 60.4% |
| With an admission rate of 60%, University of New Haven reports median federal debt of $27,000 among Design and Applied Arts completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 67 | SUNY College of Technology at Canton · Canton, NY | $21,964 | $15,268 | $10,908 | 92.2% |
| SUNY College of Technology at Canton posts an average net price of $10,908 for families earning under $30,000 and ranks 493rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the Northeast appear. The figure is the median for federally aided completers of the program who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 7 of the 67 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. Carnegie Mellon University reports $138,588, and the gap to second-ranked Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is $51,230.
Related rankings
- Best Colleges in the Northeast
- Best Art & Design Colleges in the Northeast
- Art & Design Colleges in the Northeast for Social Mobility