TopUniversitiesUSA

53 Best Public PhD Arts, Design & Architecture Universities in the USA

Compare 118 programs at 53 universities in the USA — graduates, earnings, debt and costs from the federal record on every listing.

53 universities · ranked best first

how we rank
1
UC University of California-Santa Barbara logo

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California · Public University · Est. 1891

US #5 QS World #200 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$16,109/yr
Admission rate
33%
Earnings (10yr)
$74,915
Students
23,113
2
RU Rutgers University-New Brunswick logo

Rutgers University-New Brunswick

New Brunswick, New Jersey · Public University · Est. 1766

US #6 QS World #217 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$24,406/yr
Admission rate
58%
Earnings (10yr)
$74,479
Students
37,751
4
UC University of California-Riverside logo

University of California-Riverside

Riverside, California · Public University · Est. 1954

US #13 QS World #400 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$14,304/yr
Admission rate
76%
Earnings (10yr)
$67,699
Students
22,593
5
UD University of Delaware logo

University of Delaware

Newark, Delaware · Public University · Est. 1743

US #18 QS World #501 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$17,799/yr
Admission rate
71%
Earnings (10yr)
$72,950
Students
19,071
6
UA University at Buffalo logo

University at Buffalo

Buffalo, New York · Public University · Est. 1846

US #21 QS World #521 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$20,995/yr
Admission rate
74%
Earnings (10yr)
$70,814
Students
20,112
7
FS Florida State University logo

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida · Public University · Est. 1851

US #23 QS World #561 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$11,297/yr
Admission rate
24%
Earnings (10yr)
$61,675
Students
32,212
8
UH University of Hawaii at Manoa logo

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Honolulu, Hawaii · Public University · Est. 1907

US #26 QS World #601 ROI C Admissions open
Net price
$15,664/yr
Admission rate
87%
Earnings (10yr)
$57,624
Students
15,029
9
UO University of Oregon logo

University of Oregon

Eugene, Oregon · Public University · Est. 1876

US #28 QS World #601 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$22,182/yr
Admission rate
88%
Earnings (10yr)
$61,324
Students
20,497
10
TU Temple University logo

Temple University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Public University · Est. 1884

US #32 QS World #631 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$28,198/yr
Admission rate
80%
Earnings (10yr)
$63,727
Students
20,970
11
UO University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus logo

University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

Norman, Oklahoma · Public University · Est. 1890

US #34 QS World #701 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$15,300/yr
Admission rate
77%
Earnings (10yr)
$63,126
Students
22,734
12
UM University of Minnesota-Twin Cities logo

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota · Public University · Est. 1851

US #37 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$16,778/yr
Admission rate
80%
Earnings (10yr)
$69,020
Students
31,855
13
UW University of Washington-Seattle Campus logo

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Seattle, Washington · Public University · Est. 1861

US #38 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$14,091/yr
Admission rate
39%
Earnings (10yr)
$78,466
Students
31,942
14
PS Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus logo

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University Park, Pennsylvania · Public University · Est. 1855

US #40 ROI C Admissions open
Net price
$32,875/yr
Admission rate
61%
Earnings (10yr)
$63,435
Students
42,284
15
AS Arizona State University Campus Immersion logo

Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Tempe, Arizona · Public University · Est. 1885

US #41 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$14,967/yr
Admission rate
90%
Earnings (10yr)
$62,668
Students
64,674
16
UC University of Cincinnati-Main Campus logo

University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

Cincinnati, Ohio · Public University · Est. 1819

US #42 ROI C Admissions open
Net price
$25,648/yr
Admission rate
85%
Earnings (10yr)
$54,810
Students
29,882
17
UW University of Wisconsin-Madison logo

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, Wisconsin · Public University · Est. 1848

US #44 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$17,354/yr
Admission rate
45%
Earnings (10yr)
$73,792
Students
36,902
18
UP University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus logo

University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Public University · Est. 1787

US #45 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$30,434/yr
Admission rate
58%
Earnings (10yr)
$66,125
Students
20,370
19
OS Ohio State University-Main Campus logo

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, Ohio · Public University · Est. 1870

US #46 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$17,339/yr
Admission rate
61%
Earnings (10yr)
$60,409
Students
45,638
20
UF University of Florida logo

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida · Public University · Est. 1853

US #47 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$6,541/yr
Admission rate
24%
Earnings (10yr)
$71,588
Students
35,629
21
TA Texas A&M University-College Station logo

Texas A&M University-College Station

College Station, Texas · Public University · Est. 1876

US #48 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$21,315/yr
Admission rate
57%
Earnings (10yr)
$72,097
Students
59,615
22
UG University of Georgia logo

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia · Public University · Est. 1785

US #49 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$13,936/yr
Admission rate
38%
Earnings (10yr)
$68,726
Students
32,137
23
UK University of Kansas logo

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas · Public University · Est. 1864

US #50 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$18,059/yr
Admission rate
93%
Earnings (10yr)
$61,945
Students
21,217
24
UN University of Nevada-Las Vegas logo

University of Nevada-Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada · Public University · Est. 1957

US #52 ROI C Admissions open
Net price
$10,359/yr
Admission rate
96%
Earnings (10yr)
$55,037
Students
24,622

What this subject pays

Graduates of Arts, Design & Architecture programmes report a median $33,459 two years after finishing, across 456 programmes that publish the figure , against median debt of $26,125.

Arts, Design & Architecture pay by degree level →

Frequently asked questions

Which are the best universities for public PhD Arts, Design & Architecture universities in the USA?

By our composite ranking, the top choices include University of California-Santa Barbara, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The full ranked list above shows each one's national rank, costs and admission data.

How much does it cost to study public PhD Arts, Design & Architecture universities in the USA?

Costs vary widely by university: public institutions charge in-state residents far less than out-of-state and international students, and private universities set one price for everyone. Every listing above shows the published tuition and net price we hold from the federal College Scorecard, so you can compare like with like.

Can international students work while studying public PhD Arts, Design & Architecture universities in the USA?

Yes, within the rules of the F-1 student visa: on-campus work during term, Curricular Practical Training tied to the program, and Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduating — with a longer extension for eligible STEM degrees.

About public PhD Arts, Design & Architecture universities in the USA

This page lists public PhD Arts, Design & Architecture universities in the USA held in our database, ordered by a composite score that combines QS World positions, our editorial star rating, academic breadth, internationalisation and student support — never paid placement. Program and cost figures come from the US Department of Education's College Scorecard. Use the filters to narrow by subject, level, university type or location; every combination has its own address you can bookmark or share.

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