2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Kentucky
[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.
College Factual analyzed 7 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 Kentucky
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in design & applied arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
Big Sandy Community And Technical College earned the #1 spot for value among design & applied arts schools in Kentucky. Located in the town of Prestonsburg, Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,588 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Big Sandy Community And Technical College generally make around $33,956. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Somerset Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the town of Somerset, Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $13,722. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Somerset Community College earn a median of $35,340 early in their careers. Set against $13,722 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northern Kentucky University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,088 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,912 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $25,572. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Northern Kentucky University earn a median of $52,565 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,572 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Jefferson Community And Technical College earned it the #4 place for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Louisville, Jefferson Community And Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,808, while out-of-state students pay about $6,512. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $13,917 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $44,346. Set against $13,917 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western Kentucky University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,652, compared with $27,000 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $24,499. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $44,778. Set against $24,499 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Kentucky Wesleyan College came in at #6 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Owensboro, Kentucky Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,673. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $25,333 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $32,568. That is a strong return on a $25,333 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kentucky placed #7 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,502, while out-of-state students pay about $34,140. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $42,168. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
