Best Value Design and Applied Arts Colleges in Ohio

Ohio State University produces the highest-earning Design and Applied Arts graduates at $45,794 annually, while University of Akron offers the most affordable path at just $14,981 net cost. This stark $30,000 difference in educational investment reflects the varied approaches Ohio institutions take toward creative education. Ohio's manufacturing heritage, anchored by companies like Honda and advanced healthcare systems including Cleveland Clinic, creates steady demand for designers who understand both aesthetic principles and practical application. Public universities dominate the affordability rankings, with six of the top seven spots offering net costs under $21,000. However, private institutions like Mount St. Joseph University prove competitive at $16,135 net cost while maintaining a 54.7% graduation rate. The state's mix of urban design markets in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland provides internship opportunities and post-graduation employment, particularly for students who can bridge traditional design skills with Ohio's evolving tech sector needs.

Programs

$4,503 – $41,480

Net Price Range

$35,890

Avg. Program Earnings

53.1%

Avg. Graduation Rate

41 Design and Applied Arts Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	University of Akron Main Campus Akron, Ohio	$14,981	$38,906	$12,799	48.2%	82.9%
2	Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, Ohio	$18,292	$45,794	$12,859	87.7%	52.7%
3	Mount St. Joseph University Cincinnati, Ohio	$16,135	$36,941	$36,650	54.7%	54.4%
4	Cleveland State University Cleveland, Ohio	$16,065	$34,420	$12,613	48.9%	85.3%
5	University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Cincinnati, Ohio	$23,156	$45,227	$13,570	71.5%	86.2%
6	Kent State University at Kent Kent, Ohio	$19,614	$38,116	$12,846	65.5%	88.0%
7	Bowling Green State University-Main Campus Bowling Green, Ohio	$20,918	$35,385	$14,081	62.8%	78.7%
8	Franklin University Columbus, Ohio	$22,605	$37,748	$9,577	30.3%
9	Ohio University-Main Campus Athens, Ohio	$20,413	$33,993	$13,746	66.4%	86.5%
10	Herzing University-Akron Akron, Ohio	$20,320	$32,925	$13,420	21.2%	93.9%
11	Miami University-Oxford Oxford, Ohio	$27,662	$43,798	$17,809	81.8%	87.9%
12	Mount Vernon Nazarene University Mount Vernon, Ohio	$21,812	$32,569	$35,524	63.6%	85.3%
13	University of Dayton Dayton, Ohio	$31,236	$41,937	$47,600	81.5%	74.1%
14	Cedarville University Cedarville, Ohio	$25,022	$30,409	$36,078	74.3%	64.9%
15	Columbus College of Art & Design Columbus, Ohio	$30,139	$25,936	$39,650	61.3%	91.0%
16	Art Academy of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio	$38,041	$20,140	$40,250	44.4%	100.0%
17	Ohio University-Eastern Campus Saint Clairsville, Ohio	$4,503		$6,178	20.0%
18	Xavier University Cincinnati, Ohio	$32,342		$48,125	70.5%	84.5%
19	Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus Chillicothe, Ohio	$6,483		$6,178	12.1%
20	Ohio University-Southern Campus Ironton, Ohio	$5,328		$6,178	19.3%
21	Ohio University-Lancaster Campus Lancaster, Ohio	$6,133		$6,178	13.7%
22	Ohio University-Zanesville Campus Zanesville, Ohio	$5,971		$6,178	17.7%
23	Otterbein University Westerville, Ohio	$22,140		$34,899	68.9%	83.7%
24	University of Rio Grande Rio Grande, Ohio	$29,541		$20,560	32.2%
25	The Modern College of Design Kettering, Ohio	$34,709		$30,548	61.9%	99.1%
26	Shawnee State University Portsmouth, Ohio	$15,389		$9,622	43.0%
27	Ursuline College Pepper Pike, Ohio	$18,027		$37,860	53.2%	85.1%
28	Walsh University North Canton, Ohio	$20,004		$34,595	61.7%	72.5%
29	Ashland University Ashland, Ohio	$21,994		$28,910	60.6%	71.8%
30	Ohio Northern University Ada, Ohio	$25,727		$37,800	74.2%	54.4%
31	Ohio Dominican University Columbus, Ohio	$19,476		$34,370	47.9%	52.4%
32	Notre Dame College Cleveland, Ohio	$20,477		$32,606	36.6%	78.5%
33	Baldwin Wallace University Berea, Ohio	$27,654		$37,938	68.6%	77.0%
34	University of Mount Union Alliance, Ohio	$22,539		$35,400	64.9%	75.8%
35	Bluffton University Bluffton, Ohio	$17,430		$36,298	49.5%	96.3%
36	Marietta College Marietta, Ohio	$18,372		$38,974	58.1%	82.9%
37	Malone University Canton, Ohio	$22,881		$36,120	51.3%	77.6%
38	Hiram College Hiram, Ohio	$20,088		$26,265	59.1%	93.1%
39	Cleveland Institute of Art Cleveland, Ohio	$41,480		$47,880	67.5%	69.8%
40	The University of Findlay Findlay, Ohio	$23,731		$39,646	62.6%	86.0%
41	Defiance College Defiance, Ohio	$23,722		$38,778	36.7%	62.9%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the $30,000 cost difference between the most and least expensive programs?

University of Akron charges $14,981 net cost compared to University of Dayton's $31,236, reflecting the public versus private divide. Public institutions benefit from state funding that subsidizes in-state tuition, while private colleges rely on tuition revenue and endowments. However, Mount St. Joseph University breaks this pattern at $16,135 net cost despite being private nonprofit. The earnings data shows Ohio State graduates earning $45,794 compared to $30,409 at Cedarville, suggesting higher costs don't automatically guarantee better financial outcomes.

How do graduation rates correlate with program costs in Ohio Design and Applied Arts?

Ohio State University combines the highest graduation rate at 87.7% with strong earnings potential, justifying its $18,292 net cost. Surprisingly, some affordable options like University of Akron show lower completion rates at 48.2%, while mid-priced Miami University achieves 81.8% graduation rates at $27,662. Franklin University presents the biggest concern with only 30.3% of students completing their programs. These patterns suggest that institutional support systems matter as much as affordability for student success.

Does location within Ohio affect job prospects for Design and Applied Arts graduates?

Columbus-area graduates from Ohio State earn $45,794 annually, benefiting from the city's growing tech sector and state government design needs. Cincinnati students at University of Cincinnati earn $45,227, reflecting the region's corporate headquarters and manufacturing design opportunities. Cleveland State graduates earn $34,420, competitive considering the city's healthcare design market centered around Cleveland Clinic. Rural programs like Ohio University in Athens still produce graduates earning $33,993, showing Ohio's statewide demand for design professionals.

Is student debt a major concern for Ohio Design and Applied Arts programs?

Most programs keep debt levels manageable, with 10 of 15 schools reporting debt between $21,694 and $28,205. Cedarville University stands out with the lowest debt burden at $22,000 despite being private. Franklin University shows concerning debt levels at $28,205 combined with poor graduation rates. Ohio State graduates carry $21,694 in debt but earn $45,794 annually, creating a favorable debt-to-income ratio that makes loan payments sustainable within the design industry's salary expectations.

Where do acceptance rates indicate program selectivity versus accessibility?

Ohio State University maintains moderate selectivity at 52.72% acceptance, balancing quality with accessibility for a flagship program. Most Ohio schools accept over 80% of applicants, with Herzing University-Akron accepting 93.86% of students. Cedarville University shows the most selectivity among smaller programs at 64.88% acceptance while maintaining strong graduation rates at 74.3%. Mount St. Joseph University accepts 54.35% of applicants, similar to Ohio State's standards, suggesting comparable academic expectations despite different institutional profiles.

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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.