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2022 Best Value Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region

48 Ranked Colleges
3,229 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 36,854 people earned their degree in design and applied arts, making the major the 34th most popular in the United States. 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 the Southwest region, there were 3,229 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,160 and $27,678 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 48 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in design and applied arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality design and applied arts programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the design and applied arts program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The design school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region

Out of the 48 schools in the Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Collin County Community College District landed the #1 spot on the list. Collin County Community College District is a large public school situated in McKinney, Texas. It awarded 173 ’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Collin County Community College District, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $7,898 for southwest region design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Collin County Community College District.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Collin County Community College District

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas at Austin. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. The University of Texas at Austin is a large school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 67 ’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region design students whose families make $48-$75k list, UT Austin has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $15,757 for Southwest Region Design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend The University of Texas at Austin.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at The University of Texas at Austin

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Austin Community College District. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Austin Community College District is a large public school situated in Austin, Texas. It awarded 73 ’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Austin Community College District also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for Austin Community College District is $8,877 for southwest region design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Austin Community College District

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology is a small school located in Okmulgee, Oklahoma that handed out 13 ’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

OSU Institute of Technology did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology is $8,415 for Southwest Region Design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at OSU Institute of Technology

#5

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Texas State is located in San Marcos, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 133 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas State, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Texas State is $14,250 for Southwest Region Design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Texas State University

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. OSU is a large public school situated in Stillwater, Oklahoma. It awarded 59 ’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

OSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $14,698 for Southwest Region Design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend OSU.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Oklahoma State University - Main Campus

University of North Texas landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Denton, Texas, and it awarded 117 ’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

UNT not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of North Texas is $15,377 for Southwest Region Design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at UNT

#8

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

University of Houston did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #8. UH is a public institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 37 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region design students whose families make $48-$75k list, UH has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UH is $12,505 for southwest region design students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at University of Houston

#9

Pima Community College

Tucson, Arizona

With a ranking of #9, Pima Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Pima County Community College District is a fairly large school located in Tucson, Arizona that handed out 24 ’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,659 for Southwest Region Design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Pima County Community College District.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Pima Community College

With a ranking of #10, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Tempe, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 221 students in 2019-2020.

ASU - Tempe also took the #5 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend ASU - Tempe is $14,033 for Southwest Region Design students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Arizona State University - Tempe

The University of Texas at Dallas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Richardson, Texas, this large public school awarded 188 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Dallas, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UT Dallas is $13,797 for southwest region design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at The University of Texas at Dallas

#12

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

With a ranking of #12, Texas Tech University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Lubbock, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Texas Tech University is $17,421 for Southwest Region Design students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Texas Tech

#13

Texas Woman's University

Denton, Texas

Texas Woman’s University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Denton, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $9,629 for southwest region design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Texas Woman’s University.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at TWU

#14

San Antonio College

San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. San Antonio, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 46 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend San Antonio College is $8,279 for Southwest Region Design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full San Antonio College Design & Applied Arts Report

Stephen F Austin State University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Nacogdoches, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

SFASU also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #16. The yearly cost to attend Stephen F Austin State University is $13,644 for southwest region design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at SFASU

With a ranking of #16, San Jacinto Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Pasadena, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 62 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $9,788 for southwest region design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend San Jacinto College.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at San Jacinto College

Texas State Technical College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. TSTC is a fairly large school located in Waco, Texas that handed out 52 ’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region design students whose families make $48-$75k list, TSTC has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend TSTC is $12,576 for southwest region design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Texas State Technical College

#18

Mesa Community College

Mesa, Arizona

Mesa Community College landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Mesa Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Mesa, Arizona. It awarded 50 ’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,230 for southwest region design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Mesa Community College.

Full Mesa Community College Design & Applied Arts Report

#19

Phoenix College

Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, this medium-sized public school awarded 47 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Phoenix College is $10,965 for Southwest Region Design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Phoenix College

Texas A&M University - Commerce landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Commerce, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 15 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region design students whose families make $48-$75k list, Texas A&M Commerce has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M University - Commerce is $14,033 for Southwest Region Design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Texas A&M University - Commerce

#21

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas

Sam Houston State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Huntsville, Texas, this large public school handed out 26 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SHSU, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $14,832 for southwest region design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Sam Houston State University.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Sam Houston State University

#22

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona

Northern Arizona University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #22. Northern Arizona University is a large public school situated in Flagstaff, Arizona. It awarded 89 ’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Northern Arizona University is $12,675 for southwest region design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at NAU

#23

Kilgore College

Kilgore, Texas

With a ranking of #23, Kilgore College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Kilgore College is located in Kilgore, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $9,650 for Southwest Region Design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Kilgore College.

Full Kilgore College Design & Applied Arts Report

#24

South Plains College

Levelland, Texas

South Plains College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. South Plains College is a medium-sized public school situated in Levelland, Texas. It awarded 44 ’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend South Plains College is $9,476 for southwest region design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at South Plains College

#25

West Texas A&M University

Canyon, Texas

With a ranking of #25, West Texas A&M University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. West Texas A&M University is a public institution located in Canyon, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,101 for Southwest Region Design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend West Texas A&M University.

Full West Texas A&M University Design & Applied Arts Report

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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.

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