2027 Best Value Other Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southeast Region
[Other Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/design-and-applied-arts-other/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong other design & applied arts education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for other design & applied arts students.
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2027 Best Value Other Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the other design & applied arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Other Design & Applied Arts Schools
University Of Central Florida earned the #1 spot for value among other design & applied arts schools in the Southeast Region. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,368, while out-of-state students pay about $22,467. Students borrow a median of $21,620 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $51,790. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in other design & applied arts will find it at Tennessee Technological University, which ranked #2. Tennessee Technological University is a large public school located in the town of Cookeville. Students from in state pay about $11,376 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,576 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $17,580. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $46,981. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Radford University earned it the #3 place for other design & applied arts. Located in the town of Radford, Radford University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,548, compared with $25,633 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $27,000. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of Radford University earn a median of $34,096 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Winthrop University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other design & applied arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Rock Hill, Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,678, while out-of-state students pay about $28,676. Students borrow a median of $29,917 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Winthrop University generally make around $40,119. Set against $29,917 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Winthrop University admits about 79% of applicants.
University Of Kentucky is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other design & applied arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,502, while out-of-state students pay about $34,140. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the other design & applied arts program here. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $49,568 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Virginia Commonwealth University placed #6 among the best values for other design & applied arts. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,720, compared with $39,884 for out-of-state students. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $25,937 in student loans. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $36,156 early in their careers. Set against $25,937 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Auburn University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value other design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,890, compared with $34,922 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other design & applied arts graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $46,585. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Marymount University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value other design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Arlington, Marymount University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,120. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other design & applied arts degree recipients from Marymount University generally make around $44,175. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Full Sail University earned the #9 position for value in other design & applied arts this year. Full Sail University is a very large private for-profit school located in the suburb of Winter Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,906. Other Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $37,882 in student loans. Early-career other design & applied arts graduates make about $30,106. Set against $37,882 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
