2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southeast Region
[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 143 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value design & applied arts schools.
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2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in design & applied arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
Our analysis ranked Central Piedmont Community College the best value for a degree in design & applied arts in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,792, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $11,861. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $30,979. That is a strong return on a $11,861 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Wayne Community College, which ranked #2. Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Goldsboro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,566, compared with $8,710 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $33,116. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Florida earned it the #3 place for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Students borrow a median of $19,839 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $43,144. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Chattahoochee Technical College one of the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the suburb of Marietta, Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, while out-of-state students pay about $6,108. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $9,616. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Chattahoochee Technical College generally make around $44,673. That is a strong return on a $9,616 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida State College At Jacksonville earned it the #5 place for design & applied arts. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Students from in state pay about $2,657 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,631 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,139 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $46,748. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hinds Community College placed #6 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the rural area of Raymond, Hinds Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,250, compared with $7,300 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $16,385 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Hinds Community College generally make around $34,003. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Trident Technical College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,546 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,620. Students borrow a median of $18,116 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $50,166. Set against $18,116 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wilkes Community College landed the #8 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,572 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,716 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $9,125. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Wilkes Community College generally make around $36,341. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indian River State College placed #9 among the best values for design & applied arts. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,764, compared with $10,201 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $44,082. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Spartanburg Community College placed #10 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the suburb of Spartanburg, Spartanburg Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,071, while out-of-state students pay about $10,135. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $10,148 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Spartanburg Community College earn a median of $41,598 early in their careers. Set against $10,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southern Regional Technical College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the town of Thomasville, Southern Regional Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,007 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,575. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $9,086 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Southern Regional Technical College earn a median of $44,007 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,086 median debt.
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College landed the #12 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the rural area of Valdosta, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,480, while out-of-state students pay about $6,048. Students borrow a median of $10,864 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $40,452. That is a strong return on a $10,864 median debt.
Miami Dade College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,838, while out-of-state students pay about $9,661. Students borrow a median of $11,967 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $30,466. Set against $11,967 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Georgia Technical College placed #14 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the rural area of Waco, West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $39,922. That is a strong return on a $12,651 median debt.
Atlanta Technical College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Atlanta, Atlanta Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,382, while out-of-state students pay about $5,950. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $17,655. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Atlanta Technical College generally make around $35,441. That is a strong return on a $17,655 median debt.
Fayetteville Technical Community College earned the #16 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,628, while out-of-state students pay about $8,772. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $16,909 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Fayetteville Technical Community College generally make around $40,584. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Horry Georgetown Technical College came in at #17 for value in design & applied arts this year. Horry Georgetown Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Conway. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,518, compared with $10,978 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $17,500. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Horry Georgetown Technical College earn a median of $22,024 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Virginia Western Community College earned the #18 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Roanoke. Students from in state pay about $5,400 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,838. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $13,715 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Virginia Western Community College generally make around $31,440. Set against $13,715 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chattanooga State Community College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,772, compared with $17,756 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,681 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Chattanooga State Community College generally make around $20,165. Set against $11,681 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Midlands Technical College earned the #20 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of West Columbia, Midlands Technical College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,100 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,700. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $17,611 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $39,610. That is a strong return on a $17,611 median debt.
North Georgia Technical College landed the #21 spot for design & applied arts value this year. North Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Clarkesville. Students from in state pay about $3,330 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,898 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,279 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $34,133. Set against $12,279 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pellissippi State Community College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Pellissippi State Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Knoxville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,786, with out-of-state students paying around $17,770. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $8,951. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $43,816. That is a strong return on a $8,951 median debt.
Germanna Community College placed #23 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the rural area of Locust Grove, Germanna Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,257 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,648 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $10,999 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $41,880. Set against $10,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwest Tennessee Community College landed the #24 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the city of Memphis, Southwest Tennessee Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,766, with out-of-state students paying around $17,750. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,406 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Southwest Tennessee Community College generally make around $43,592. Set against $11,406 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lenoir Community College earned the #25 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the town of Kinston, Lenoir Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,578, with out-of-state students paying around $8,822. Students borrow a median of $9,984 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Lenoir Community College earn a median of $38,736 early in their careers. Set against $9,984 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in design & applied arts:
Narrow Design & Applied Arts Schools by State
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 143 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 143 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.
