Design & Applied Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 255 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for design & applied arts students pursuing a degree.
Translate your creative ideas through concept, design and digital media with a bachelor's in graphic design online from Southern New Hampshire University.
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.
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.
Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in the Southeast Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the design & applied arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked University Of Florida the best school in the country for a degree in design & applied arts. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. University Of Florida awarded about 71 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $43,144 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,839.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from University Of Florida
A rank of #2 makes North Carolina State University At Raleigh one of the top schools for design & applied arts. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 68 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $48,940 early in their careers. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in design & applied arts, ranking #3. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 78 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $46,761 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,802.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
A rank of #4 makes Clemson University one of the top schools for design & applied arts. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 78 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Clemson University in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $46,689 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Clemson University
A rank of #5 makes University Of Arkansas one of the top schools for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 27 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arkansas in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of Arkansas earn around $41,782 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Arkansas graduates carry a median of $23,881 in student loans.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at University Of Arkansas
University Of Central Florida placed #6 among the best design & applied arts schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Orlando. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. About 18 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Central Florida in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of Central Florida earn around $51,790 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Central Florida graduates carry a median of $21,620 in student loans.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at University Of Central Florida
Auburn University came in at #7 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. Auburn University graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 141 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Auburn University in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $46,585 early in their careers. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Auburn University
Florida State University placed #8 among the best design & applied arts schools. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Florida State University awarded about 38 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $49,144. Typical student debt for the program is $22,250.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Florida State University
High Point University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of High Point. About 72% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 66 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at High Point University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from High Point University earn around $113,352 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,785 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from High Point University
Furman University earned the #10 position for design & applied arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Greenville. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. There were roughly 15 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Furman University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $36,520 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,764 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Furman University
West Virginia University came in at #11 for design & applied arts this year. West Virginia University is a very large public school located in the city of Morgantown. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 87 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at West Virginia University in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from West Virginia University earn around $39,847 in the first couple years of their career. West Virginia University graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for West Virginia University
Tulane University Of Louisiana landed the #12 spot for design & applied arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Orleans. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates 86% of students within six years. About 40 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Tulane University Of Louisiana in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Tulane University Of Louisiana earn around $54,082 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,077.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Tulane University Of Louisiana
Florida International University came in at #13 for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Miami. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Florida International University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Florida International University earn around $52,517 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,349 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Florida International University
Samford University earned the #14 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Birmingham, Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. There were roughly 33 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Samford University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $41,323 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Samford University
University Of South Florida Main Campus landed the #15 spot for design & applied arts this year. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates 77% of students within six years. About 22 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of South Florida Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $38,938 in their early career. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans.
Get the full design & applied arts details for University Of South Florida Main Campus
The University Of Alabama landed the #16 spot for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tuscaloosa. The University Of Alabama graduates 73% of students within six years. About 61 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at The University Of Alabama in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $44,215 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,505 to complete this degree.
Get the full design & applied arts details for The University Of Alabama
Appalachian State University earned the #17 position for design & applied arts this year. Appalachian State University is a very large public school located in the town of Boone. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. Appalachian State University awarded about 119 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of $34,722 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Appalachian State University
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earned the #18 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga awarded about 19 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $41,968 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga
University Of Miami ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. University Of Miami graduates 84% of students within six years. About 26 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Miami in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $57,234 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for University Of Miami
University Of Kentucky landed the #20 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. University Of Kentucky graduates 71% of students within six years. About 43 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Kentucky in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of Kentucky earn around $42,168 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Kentucky graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for University Of Kentucky
Palm Beach State College placed #21 among the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a very large public university. Palm Beach State College awarded about 20 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Palm Beach State College generally make around $36,768. Students borrow a median of $12,518 to complete this degree.
Get the full design & applied arts details for Palm Beach State College
East Carolina University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. About 63% of students finish within six years. East Carolina University awarded about 19 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $39,992 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at East Carolina University
The University Of Tennessee ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from The University Of Tennessee earn around $36,061 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,859.
Get the full design & applied arts details for The University Of Tennessee
Forsyth Technical Community College landed the #24 spot for design & applied arts this year. Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Winston-Salem. About 17 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Forsyth Technical Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $29,715 in their early career. Forsyth Technical Community College graduates carry a median of $16,374 in student loans.
Get the full design & applied arts details for Forsyth Technical Community College
Tennessee Technological University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public institution. Tennessee Technological University graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Tennessee Technological University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $46,981 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,580 to complete this degree.
Get the full design & applied arts details for Tennessee Technological University
Rest of the Top 50 Design & Applied Arts Schools
These schools also placed among the best for design & applied arts this year:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 255 schools evaluated.
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).
