Best Value Design and Applied Arts Colleges in New Jersey

Design and Applied Arts graduates from New Jersey schools face a striking earnings gap, with The College of New Jersey alumni earning $43,426 compared to just $23,351 at Rider University. This $20,000 difference occurs despite both schools charging similar net costs around $25,000. New Jersey's proximity to Manhattan's advertising agencies and design studios creates strong employment pipelines for graduates willing to commute. Public universities dominate the value equation, with Kean University offering the lowest net cost at $12,168 while still producing graduates who earn $38,289 annually. The state's 13 programs range from highly selective options like NJIT with a 66% acceptance rate to open-access opportunities at Centenary University accepting 97% of applicants.

Programs

$12,168 – $31,650

Net Price Range

$31,624

Avg. Program Earnings

65.4%

Avg. Graduation Rate

13 Design and Applied Arts Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Kean University Union, New Jersey	$12,168	$38,289	$13,426	43.4%	82.6%
2	Montclair State University Montclair, New Jersey	$14,159	$30,228	$14,766	64.3%	91.3%
3	New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, New Jersey	$16,496	$32,382	$19,022	73.1%	66.0%
4	The College of New Jersey Ewing, New Jersey	$25,458	$43,426	$18,685	85.2%	64.4%
5	Centenary University Hackettstown, New Jersey	$19,037	$24,730	$37,732	56.6%	96.5%
6	Seton Hall University South Orange, New Jersey	$28,921	$28,960	$51,370	71.5%	75.1%
7	Rider University Lawrenceville, New Jersey	$25,287	$23,351	$38,900	63.3%	84.1%
8	Berkeley College-Woodland Park Woodland Park, New Jersey	$20,549		$28,600	44.8%
9	Caldwell University Caldwell, New Jersey	$21,188		$39,450	58.7%	66.4%
10	Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus Teaneck, New Jersey	$15,266		$35,822	61.7%	84.1%
11	Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus Madison, New Jersey	$24,415		$35,822	72.3%	89.1%
12	Monmouth University West Long Branch, New Jersey	$31,650		$44,850	70.3%	90.9%
13	Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Brunswick, New Jersey	$23,519		$17,239	85.0%	66.3%

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes the $20,000 earnings gap between top and bottom Design programs?

The College of New Jersey graduates earn $43,426 annually while Rider University graduates earn $23,351, creating a massive spread. This difference likely stems from program focus, industry connections, and alumni networks rather than just tuition costs.

How much debt do Design students typically graduate with?

Most programs report debt levels between $21,500 and $29,125, with Berkeley College-Woodland Park showing the highest at $29,125. Notably, several top schools like The College of New Jersey and Rutgers don't report debt data, suggesting stronger financial aid packages.

Is attending a public university always cheaper for Design majors?

Public options like Kean ($12,168) and Montclair State ($14,159) offer the lowest net costs. However, some private schools like Fairleigh Dickinson-Metropolitan Campus charge just $15,266 net, competing closely with public tuition rates.

Where do graduation rates vary most among Design programs?

The College of New Jersey leads with an 85.2% graduation rate, while Berkeley College-Woodland Park graduates only 44.8% of students. Public universities generally show stronger completion rates, with NJIT achieving 73.1% and Rutgers hitting 85%.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.