2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Florida
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong design & applied arts education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for design & applied arts students.
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2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Florida
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in design & applied arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
Leading the list is University Of Florida, our #1 best value for design & applied arts in Florida. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $19,839 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $43,144. Set against $19,839 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida State College At Jacksonville earned it the #2 place for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,657 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,631. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $19,139 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $46,748. Set against $19,139 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Indian River State College, which ranked #3. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,764, compared with $10,201 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $44,082. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Miami Dade College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,838 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,661. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $11,967. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $30,466. Set against $11,967 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Palm Beach State College, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,050 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,910. Students borrow a median of $12,518 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Palm Beach State College generally make around $36,768. Set against $12,518 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Seminole State College Of Florida landed the #6 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Sanford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,122, compared with $11,447 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,613 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Seminole State College Of Florida earn a median of $35,284 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #7 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $38,938. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Florida earned the #8 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $21,620. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $51,790 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,620 median debt. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants.
University Of North Florida came in at #9 for value in design & applied arts this year. University Of North Florida is a large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. In-state tuition and fees average $5,964, while out-of-state students pay about $19,407. Students borrow a median of $18,523 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of North Florida earn a median of $49,208 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
Florida State University came in at #10 for value in design & applied arts this year. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $49,144 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University came in at #11 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,785 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,725 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $23,504. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 21%.
William T Mcfatter Technical College came in at #12 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Davie, William T Mcfatter Technical College is a small public institution. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of William T Mcfatter Technical College earn a median of $28,512 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Orange Technical College Winter Park Campus came in at #13 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Orlando, Orange Technical College Winter Park Campus is a mid-sized public university. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Orange Technical College Winter Park Campus generally make around $23,270.
Pinellas Technical College Clearwater placed #14 among the best values for design & applied arts. Pinellas Technical College Clearwater is a small public school located in the city of Clearwater. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $18,549. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Pinellas Technical College Clearwater earn a median of $31,995 early in their careers. Set against $18,549 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Flagler College St Augustine placed #15 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the suburb of Saint Augustine, Flagler College St Augustine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $29,900 in tuition and fees. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Flagler College St Augustine earn a median of $34,236 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale placed #16 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,056. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $24,792 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Keiser University Ft Lauderdale earn a median of $20,360 early in their careers. Set against $24,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Southeastern University earned the #17 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Lakeland, Southeastern University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,950. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $23,460. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Southeastern University generally make around $40,154. That is a strong return on a $23,460 median debt. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tampa landed the #18 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the city of Tampa, The University Of Tampa is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,408 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,191 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of The University Of Tampa earn a median of $45,401 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,191 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%.
University Of Miami ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,616. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $17,750. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Miami generally make around $57,234. Set against $17,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.
Lynn University earned the #20 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Lynn University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $44,480 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $21,391. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Lynn University earn a median of $50,569 early in their careers. Set against $21,391 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Full Sail University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Winter Park, Full Sail University is a very large private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $26,906 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $37,882. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Full Sail University earn a median of $30,106 early in their careers. Set against $37,882 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ringling College Of Art And Design placed #22 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Sarasota, Ringling College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,900. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Ringling College Of Art And Design earn a median of $28,137 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Ringling College Of Art And Design admits about 70% of applicants.
Miami Ad School Wynwood ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Ad School Wynwood is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $19,400 in tuition and fees. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Miami Ad School Wynwood earn a median of $56,833 early in their careers.
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
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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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 23 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.
