2026 Best Value Commercial & Advertising Art Schools in the Southeast Region
[Commercial & Advertising Art](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/commercial-and-advertising-art/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong commercial & advertising art education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 53 schools to find the best return on investment for commercial & advertising art students.
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2026 Best Value Commercial & Advertising Art Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in commercial & advertising art, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Commercial & Advertising Art Schools
Leading the list is Trident Technical College, our #1 best value for commercial & advertising art in the Southeast Region. Set in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,546, compared with $8,620 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,116 to complete the commercial & advertising art program here. Commercial & Advertising Art graduates of Trident Technical College earn a median of $50,166 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central Piedmont Community College earned it the #2 place for commercial & advertising art. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for commercial & advertising art graduates is $11,861. Early-career commercial & advertising art graduates make about $30,979. Set against $11,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wilkes Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in commercial & advertising art, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,572, with out-of-state students paying around $8,716. Commercial & Advertising Art graduates carry a median of $9,125 in student loans. Soon after graduation, commercial & advertising art degree recipients from Wilkes Community College generally make around $36,341. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in commercial & advertising art will find it at Fayetteville Technical Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,628, while out-of-state students pay about $8,772. Typical student debt for commercial & advertising art graduates is $16,909. Soon after graduation, commercial & advertising art degree recipients from Fayetteville Technical Community College generally make around $40,584. That is a strong return on a $16,909 median debt.
Southwest Tennessee Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in commercial & advertising art, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Memphis, Southwest Tennessee Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,766, with out-of-state students paying around $17,750. Typical student debt for commercial & advertising art graduates is $11,406. Early-career commercial & advertising art graduates make about $43,592. Set against $11,406 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Albany Technical College landed the #6 spot for commercial & advertising art value this year. Albany Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Albany. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,364, while out-of-state students pay about $5,932. Typical student debt for commercial & advertising art graduates is $16,321. Soon after graduation, commercial & advertising art degree recipients from Albany Technical College generally make around $35,895. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rowan Cabarrus Community College earned the #7 position for value in commercial & advertising art this year. Set in the suburb of Salisbury, Rowan Cabarrus Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,064, with out-of-state students paying around $6,672. Commercial & Advertising Art graduates carry a median of $10,867 in student loans. Soon after graduation, commercial & advertising art degree recipients from Rowan Cabarrus Community College generally make around $34,351. Set against $10,867 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chattanooga State Community College earned the #8 position for value in commercial & advertising art this year. Located in the city of Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,772, with out-of-state students paying around $17,756. Typical student debt for commercial & advertising art graduates is $11,681. Commercial & Advertising Art graduates of Chattanooga State Community College earn a median of $20,165 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,681 median debt.
Lenoir Community College landed the #9 spot for commercial & advertising art value this year. Set in the town of Kinston, Lenoir Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,578, compared with $8,822 for out-of-state students. Commercial & Advertising Art graduates carry a median of $9,984 in student loans. Early-career commercial & advertising art graduates make about $38,736. Set against $9,984 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tri County Technical College came in at #10 for value in commercial & advertising art this year. Located in the suburb of Pendleton, Tri County Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,448, with out-of-state students paying around $12,007. Typical student debt for commercial & advertising art graduates is $15,787. Early-career commercial & advertising art graduates make about $43,438. Set against $15,787 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northwest Arkansas Community College landed the #11 spot for commercial & advertising art value this year. Northwest Arkansas Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bentonville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,342, compared with $5,238 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,479 to complete the commercial & advertising art program here. Soon after graduation, commercial & advertising art degree recipients from Northwest Arkansas Community College generally make around $40,671. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mitchell Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value commercial & advertising art schools. Set in the town of Statesville, Mitchell Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,651 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,795. Commercial & Advertising Art graduates carry a median of $6,313 in student loans. Early-career commercial & advertising art graduates make about $40,450. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wake Technical Community College earned the #13 position for value in commercial & advertising art this year. Wake Technical Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Raleigh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,254, while out-of-state students pay about $6,862. Typical student debt for commercial & advertising art graduates is $13,414. Early-career commercial & advertising art graduates make about $38,673. That is a strong return on a $13,414 median debt.
Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus landed the #14 spot for commercial & advertising art value this year. Located in the city of Birmingham, Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $8,910. Commercial & Advertising Art graduates carry a median of $11,769 in student loans. Commercial & Advertising Art graduates of Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus earn a median of $40,090 early in their careers. Set against $11,769 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Isothermal Community College earned the #15 position for value in commercial & advertising art this year. Located in the town of Spindale, Isothermal Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,030, while out-of-state students pay about $6,638. Students borrow a median of $6,625 to complete the commercial & advertising art program here. Soon after graduation, commercial & advertising art degree recipients from Isothermal Community College generally make around $47,389. Set against $6,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Crump came in at #16 for value in commercial & advertising art this year. Located in the rural area of Crump, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Crump is a mid-sized public university. Typical student debt for commercial & advertising art graduates is $6,000. Soon after graduation, commercial & advertising art degree recipients from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Crump generally make around $30,553. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Randolph Community College earned the #17 position for value in commercial & advertising art this year. Randolph Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Asheboro. Students from in state pay about $2,416 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,176 for out-of-state students. Commercial & Advertising Art graduates of Randolph Community College earn a median of $32,198 early in their careers.
Catawba Valley Community College landed the #18 spot for commercial & advertising art value this year. Catawba Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Hickory. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,427, compared with $7,803 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,842 to complete the commercial & advertising art program here. Soon after graduation, commercial & advertising art degree recipients from Catawba Valley Community College generally make around $38,219. Set against $9,842 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Baton Rouge Community College placed #19 among the best values for commercial & advertising art. Baton Rouge Community College is a large public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,321. Commercial & Advertising Art graduates carry a median of $17,624 in student loans. Commercial & Advertising Art graduates of Baton Rouge Community College earn a median of $43,394 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,624 median debt.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Memphis came in at #20 for value in commercial & advertising art this year. Located in the city of Memphis, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Memphis is a mid-sized public university. Typical student debt for commercial & advertising art graduates is $12,073. Soon after graduation, commercial & advertising art degree recipients from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Memphis generally make around $28,814. That is a strong return on a $12,073 median debt.
William T Mcfatter Technical College landed the #21 spot for commercial & advertising art value this year. Located in the suburb of Davie, William T Mcfatter Technical College is a small public university. Typical student debt for commercial & advertising art graduates is $9,500. Soon after graduation, commercial & advertising art degree recipients from William T Mcfatter Technical College generally make around $28,512. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Piedmont Technical College landed the #22 spot for commercial & advertising art value this year. Piedmont Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Greenwood. Students from in state pay about $4,775 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,923. Commercial & Advertising Art graduates carry a median of $17,652 in student loans. Early-career commercial & advertising art graduates make about $36,577. That is a strong return on a $17,652 median debt.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Dickson earned the #23 position for value in commercial & advertising art this year. Set in the rural area of Dickson, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Dickson is a small public institution. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the commercial & advertising art program here. Early-career commercial & advertising art graduates make about $35,697. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Arkansas State University Main Campus earned the #24 position for value in commercial & advertising art this year. Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Jonesboro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,090, with out-of-state students paying around $14,522. Typical student debt for commercial & advertising art graduates is $23,399. Commercial & Advertising Art graduates of Arkansas State University Main Campus earn a median of $35,970 early in their careers. Set against $23,399 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Morristown came in at #25 for value in commercial & advertising art this year. Located in the city of Morristown, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Morristown is a small public university. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete the commercial & advertising art program here. Soon after graduation, commercial & advertising art degree recipients from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Morristown generally make around $30,838. That is a strong return on a $8,000 median debt.
Rest of the Top 30 Best Value Commercial & Advertising Art Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in commercial & advertising art:
Narrow Commercial & Advertising Art Schools by State
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 53 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
