2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Georgia
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 29 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value design & applied arts schools.
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Featured Design & Applied Arts Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
AA in Digital Photography
Take the first step toward a career of visual expression and doing what you love with this online associate degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
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BA in Digital Photography
Learn to create a striking portfolio and hone the skills you need to succeed in the world of professional photography with this online digital photography degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
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2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Georgia
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the design & applied arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
Atlanta Technical College tops our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools in Georgia. Located in the city of Atlanta, Atlanta Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,382 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,950. Students borrow a median of $17,655 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Atlanta Technical College earn a median of $35,441 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Wiregrass Georgia Technical College one of the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the rural area of Valdosta, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,480, compared with $6,048 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $10,864. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $40,452. That is a strong return on a $10,864 median debt.
West Georgia Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Waco, West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,410, with out-of-state students paying around $5,978. Students borrow a median of $12,651 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of West Georgia Technical College earn a median of $39,922 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,651 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Chattahoochee Technical College, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Marietta, Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, with out-of-state students paying around $6,108. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $9,616 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Chattahoochee Technical College earn a median of $44,673 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,616 median debt.
Albany Technical College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Albany Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Albany. In-state tuition and fees average $3,364, with out-of-state students paying around $5,932. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $16,321. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $35,895. Set against $16,321 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Georgia Technical College landed the #6 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the rural area of Clarkesville, North Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,330, while out-of-state students pay about $5,898. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $12,279. Design & Applied Arts graduates of North Georgia Technical College earn a median of $34,133 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins landed the #7 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins is a large public school located in the city of Warner Robins. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,448, with out-of-state students paying around $6,016. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,693 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $39,765. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lanier Technical College placed #8 among the best values for design & applied arts. Lanier Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Gainesville. Students from in state pay about $3,980 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,190 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,278 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $37,118. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Athens Technical College landed the #9 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Athens Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Athens. In-state tuition and fees average $3,390, while out-of-state students pay about $5,958. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Athens Technical College earn a median of $41,631 early in their careers. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Georgia Piedmont Technical College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of Clarkston, Georgia Piedmont Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,404, while out-of-state students pay about $5,954. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $15,716 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Georgia Piedmont Technical College earn a median of $42,073 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Augusta Technical College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Augusta, Augusta Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,282 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,492 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $11,400. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $41,892. That is a strong return on a $11,400 median debt.
Valdosta State University placed #12 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Valdosta, Valdosta State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,124 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,836. Students borrow a median of $28,661 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Valdosta State University earn a median of $44,914 early in their careers. Set against $28,661 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Gwinnett Technical College earned the #13 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Gwinnett Technical College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,524, with out-of-state students paying around $6,092. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $18,997. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Gwinnett Technical College generally make around $32,851. Set against $18,997 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Middle Georgia State University earned the #14 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Macon, Middle Georgia State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,038, with out-of-state students paying around $16,390. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $26,976. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Middle Georgia State University earn a median of $48,207 early in their careers. Set against $26,976 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Middle Georgia State University admits about 100% of applicants.
Georgia Southern University earned the #15 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the town of Statesboro, Georgia Southern University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,022, with out-of-state students paying around $17,734. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $26,000. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Georgia Southern University earn a median of $39,355 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Brenau University earned the #16 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, Brenau University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $33,757 in tuition and fees. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $36,299 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Brenau University generally make around $59,258. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Miami Ad School At Portfolio Center placed #17 among the best values for design & applied arts. Miami Ad School At Portfolio Center is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Atlanta. Students from in state pay about $19,400 in tuition and fees. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $56,833.
Clark Atlanta University placed #18 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Atlanta, Clark Atlanta University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,310. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $27,427. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Clark Atlanta University generally make around $20,974. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Savannah College Of Art And Design ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Savannah, Savannah College Of Art And Design is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $41,630 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Savannah College Of Art And Design earn a median of $32,194 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Savannah College Of Art And Design admits about 83% of applicants.
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
