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Cheapest Design and Applied Arts Colleges in Colorado

Ranked by lowest net price after financial aid. See our methodology.

Colorado's public universities deliver Design and Applied Arts education at dramatically different price points, with Metropolitan State University of Denver costing just $14,294 annually compared to $36,037 at the University of Denver. The $21,979 cost gap between cheapest and most expensive options reflects Colorado's mixed higher education market. Graduates from Metro State earn $42,682 annually, the highest among these five programs, benefiting from Denver's expanding tech sector where companies like Lockheed Martin and Ball Aerospace regularly hire design professionals.
5
Programs
$14,294 – $36,037
Net Price Range
$33,263
Avg. Program Earnings
50.6%
Avg. Graduation Rate

5 Design and Applied Arts Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $14,294 $10,780 29.9% 97.9%
2 $15,331 $9,712 41.5% 81.8%
3 $20,332 $12,896 66.9% 90.8%
4 $28,037 $23,720 36.5%
5 $36,037 $59,340 78.0% 77.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Metropolitan State University of Denver's program stand out financially?

Metro State charges just $14,294 net annually while producing graduates who earn $42,682, the highest salary among Colorado's affordable design programs. The 97.91% acceptance rate means most applicants gain admission to this high-value option.

How do graduation rates vary among Colorado's affordable design programs?

Graduation rates span from 29.90% at Metropolitan State to 78% at University of Denver, with Colorado State University achieving 66.90%. The $21,738 cost difference between Metro State and CSU Fort Collins corresponds to a 37 percentage point graduation rate gap.

Is Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design worth the higher cost?

At $28,037 annually, RMCAD costs nearly double Metro State's price but graduates earn just $27,474 compared to Metro State's $42,682. The 36.50% graduation rate and $31,750 average debt load make this private option financially challenging.

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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.