2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in North Carolina
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 24 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 North Carolina
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 Central Piedmont Community College, our #1 best value for design & applied arts in North Carolina. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $30,979. That is a strong return on a $11,861 median debt.
Wayne Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,566 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,710. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Wayne Community College generally make around $33,116. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Wilkes Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,572, while out-of-state students pay about $8,716. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $9,125. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Wilkes Community College earn a median of $36,341 early in their careers. Set against $9,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fayetteville Technical Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,628 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,772. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $16,909 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $40,584. That is a strong return on a $16,909 median debt.
Lenoir Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the town of Kinston, Lenoir Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,578 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,822. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $9,984. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $38,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Alamance Community College placed #6 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the suburb of Graham, Alamance Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,592, while out-of-state students pay about $8,736. Students borrow a median of $6,625 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Alamance Community College earn a median of $37,585 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Forsyth Technical Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Winston-Salem. In-state tuition and fees average $2,276, compared with $6,884 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $16,374. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $29,715. That is a strong return on a $16,374 median debt.
Elizabeth City State University earned the #8 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the town of Elizabeth City, Elizabeth City State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,536 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,536. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $26,992. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Elizabeth City State University generally make around $28,300. That is a strong return on a $26,992 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Mitchell Community College came in at #9 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the town of Statesville, Mitchell Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,651, while out-of-state students pay about $8,795. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $6,313 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Mitchell Community College earn a median of $40,450 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,313 median debt.
Wake Technical Community College placed #10 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,254, compared with $6,862 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,414 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Wake Technical Community College generally make around $32,153. Set against $13,414 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Randolph Community College came in at #11 for value in design & applied arts this year. Randolph Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Asheboro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,416, while out-of-state students pay about $8,176. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $32,198.
Pitt Community College landed the #12 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Winterville, Pitt Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,871 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,087. Students borrow a median of $19,741 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Pitt Community College generally make around $43,022. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cape Fear Community College earned the #13 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,748, with out-of-state students paying around $8,892. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $12,388. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Cape Fear Community College earn a median of $42,889 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Catawba Valley Community College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Catawba Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Hickory. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,427, compared with $7,803 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $9,842 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Catawba Valley Community College generally make around $38,219. Set against $9,842 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro placed #15 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,661, with out-of-state students paying around $24,012. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $38,858. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Western Carolina University came in at #16 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,630 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,630. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $29,911. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $32,842. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte landed the #17 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,239, compared with $22,492 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,673 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $51,799 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,673 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Guilford Technical Community College earned the #18 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Guilford Technical Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Jamestown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,320, with out-of-state students paying around $7,696. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $15,250. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $24,827. That is a strong return on a $15,250 median debt.
East Carolina University placed #19 among the best values for design & applied arts. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. Students from in state pay about $7,361 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $23,638. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $25,000. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $39,992. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. East Carolina University admits about 89% of applicants.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #20 for value in design & applied arts this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. In-state tuition and fees average $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $48,940. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Appalachian State University earned the #21 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Appalachian State University is a very large public school located in the town of Boone. In-state tuition and fees average $7,579, compared with $25,212 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Appalachian State University generally make around $34,722. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Appalachian State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Peace College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Raleigh, Peace College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,176. Students borrow a median of $24,978 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Peace College generally make around $33,536. That is a strong return on a $24,978 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Meredith College came in at #23 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, Meredith College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,630. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $25,000. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $36,357. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
High Point University earned the #24 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of High Point, High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,312 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $23,785. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from High Point University generally make around $113,352. Set against $23,785 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 24 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.
