2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Alabama
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for design & applied arts students.
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2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Alabama
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the design & applied arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
Leading the list is Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus, our #1 best value for design & applied arts in Alabama. Set in the city of Birmingham, Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, with out-of-state students paying around $8,910. Students borrow a median of $11,769 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $40,090. Set against $11,769 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at John C Calhoun State Community College earned it the #2 place for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Tanner, John C Calhoun State Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,120, with out-of-state students paying around $8,990. Students borrow a median of $13,839 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from John C Calhoun State Community College generally make around $42,916. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Troy University earned it the #3 place for design & applied arts. Set in the town of Troy, Troy University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,176 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,352. Students borrow a median of $26,439 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Troy University earn a median of $46,723 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,439 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
A rank of #4 makes George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville one of the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the rural area of Hanceville, George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,220, compared with $9,090 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,146 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville generally make around $40,017. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Spring Hill College one of the best values for design & applied arts. Spring Hill College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Mobile. Students from in state pay about $24,054 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,500 ten years after entry. The acceptance rate is 77%.
The University Of Alabama ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,172. Students borrow a median of $26,505 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $44,215. That is a strong return on a $26,505 median debt. The University Of Alabama admits about 77% of applicants.
Auburn University came in at #7 for value in design & applied arts this year. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. In-state tuition and fees average $12,890, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $26,000. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $46,585. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Samford University earned the #8 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Birmingham. In-state tuition and fees average $40,150. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Samford University generally make around $41,323. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
