Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Design & Applied Arts

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee

13 Ranked Colleges
385 Degrees Awarded
$13,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Design Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Design Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Design & Applied Arts is the 34th most popular major in the country with 36,854 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, design and applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $29,542 and had an average of $27,114 in loans still to pay off.

Across Tennessee, there were 385 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $24,367 and $28,499 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Design Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 13 colleges that offer a degree in design and applied arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great design and applied arts programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the design and applied arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Design Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Design Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for tennessee design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 13 Best Value Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Design Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k. UT Chattanooga is a public institution located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee design students whose families make $0-$30k list, UT Chattanooga has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $8,108 for Tennessee Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UT Chattanooga.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Tennessee - Knoxville. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is located in Knoxville, Tennessee and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our tennessee design students whose families make $0-$30k list, UT Knoxville has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UT Knoxville is $10,224 for Tennessee Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at UT Knoxville

#3

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Middle Tennessee State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Middle Tennessee State University is a public institution located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The school has a large population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Middle Tennessee State University also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for Middle Tennessee State University is $8,919 for tennessee design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Middle Tennessee State University Design & Applied Arts Report

#4

Chattanooga State Community College

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Design Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Chattanooga State Community College landed the #4 spot on the list. Chattanooga State Community College is a medium-sized school located in Chattanooga, Tennessee that handed out 26 ’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Chattanooga State Community College also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $5,986 for Tennessee Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Chattanooga State Community College.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Chattanooga State Community College

#5

Nashville State Community College

Nashville, Tennessee

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Design Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Nashville State Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, this medium-sized public school handed out 20 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2019-2020.

Nashville State Community College also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend Nashville State Community College is $7,139 for tennessee design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Nashville State Community College

#6

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, Tennessee

East Tennessee State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. East Tennessee State University is a fairly large public school situated in Johnson City, Tennessee. It awarded 36 ’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

ETSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $10,632 for tennessee design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend East Tennessee State University.

Full East Tennessee State University Design & Applied Arts Report

#7

University of Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee

University of Memphis landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Memphis, Tennessee is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

UofM also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend University of Memphis is $10,256 for tennessee design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at UofM

#8

Freed-Hardeman University

Henderson, Tennessee

Freed-Hardeman University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Henderson, Tennessee, and it awarded 3 ’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

FHU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Tennessee” list. The yearly cost to attend Freed-Hardeman University is $13,512 for Tennessee Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Freed-Hardeman University

#9

Belmont University

Nashville, Tennessee

Belmont University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Belmont University is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 60 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Belmont, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Belmont University is $25,980 for Tennessee Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Belmont

#10

Milligan University

Milligan College, Tennessee

Milligan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Milligan College, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee design students whose families make $0-$30k list, Milligan has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Milligan is $14,089 for tennessee design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Milligan University

#11

Lipscomb University

Nashville, Tennessee

Lipscomb University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 14 ’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee design students whose families make $0-$30k list, Lipscomb has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lipscomb is $20,036 for tennessee design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Lipscomb University Design & Applied Arts Report

#12

Southern Adventist University

Collegedale, Tennessee

Southern Adventist University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Southern Adventist is located in Collegedale, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

Southern Adventist not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for Southern Adventist University is $19,346 for Tennessee Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Southern Adventist

#13

Nossi College of Art

Madison, Tennessee
#13 in overall quality

Nossi College of Art ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Nossi College of Art is a private for-profit institution located in Madison, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 50 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Nossi College of Art also took the #13 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $20,776 for tennessee design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Nossi College of Art.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Nossi College of Art

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Featured Performing Arts Schools

Find Schools Near You