2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Florida
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 39 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value design & applied arts schools.
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2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Florida
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
For return on investment in design & applied arts, no school beat University Of Florida this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $19,839. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $43,144 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,839 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
A rank of #2 makes Florida State College At Jacksonville one of the best values for design & applied arts. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. In-state tuition and fees average $2,657, with out-of-state students paying around $9,631. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $19,139. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Florida State College At Jacksonville earn a median of $46,748 early in their careers. Set against $19,139 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Seminole State College Of Florida one of the best values for design & applied arts. Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Sanford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,122, with out-of-state students paying around $11,447. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $19,613. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Seminole State College Of Florida earn a median of $35,284 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,613 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Miami Dade College earned it the #4 place for design & applied arts. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indian River State College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. 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. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $10,492. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $44,082. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida International University came in at #6 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,565, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $19,349 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $52,517 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Palm Beach State College earned the #7 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,050, compared with $10,910 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,518 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $36,768. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of South Florida Main Campus placed #8 among the best values for design & applied arts. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete the design & applied arts program here. 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. The acceptance rate is 43%.
University Of Central Florida placed #9 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,368 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,620 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $51,790. Set against $21,620 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Florida earned the #10 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,964, with out-of-state students paying around $19,407. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $18,523. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of North Florida generally make around $49,208. That is a strong return on a $18,523 median debt. University Of North Florida admits about 53% of applicants.
Florida State University earned the #11 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $22,250. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $49,144. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
William T Mcfatter Technical College landed the #12 spot for design & applied arts value this year. William T Mcfatter Technical College is a small public school located in the suburb of Davie. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of William T Mcfatter Technical College earn a median of $28,512 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University landed the #13 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,785, with out-of-state students paying around $17,725. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $27,000. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $23,504. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 21% of applicants are accepted.
Rasmussen College Florida placed #14 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Ocala, Rasmussen College Florida is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,256. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $32,080. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Rasmussen College Florida generally make around $32,364. That is a strong return on a $32,080 median debt.
Flagler College St Augustine ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. 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. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $34,236. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Southeastern University earned the #16 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Lakeland, Southeastern University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $32,950. Students borrow a median of $23,460 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $40,154. That is a strong return on a $23,460 median debt. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale earned the #17 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,056. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $24,792 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $20,360. That is a strong return on a $24,792 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Full Sail University came in at #18 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Winter Park, Full Sail University is a very large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $26,906. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $37,882. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Full Sail University generally make around $30,106. Set against $37,882 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The University Of Tampa landed the #19 spot for design & applied arts value this year. The University Of Tampa is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tampa. In-state tuition and fees average $34,408. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $25,191. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from The University Of Tampa generally make around $45,401. Set against $25,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 40%.
University Of Miami ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $62,616 in tuition and fees. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $57,234. Set against $17,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 19%.
Lynn University landed the #21 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Lynn University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,480. Students borrow a median of $21,391 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $50,569. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Ringling College Of Art And Design landed the #22 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the city of Sarasota, Ringling College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $57,900. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Ringling College Of Art And Design generally make around $28,137. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ringling College Of Art And Design admits about 70% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 39 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
