2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in South Carolina
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools to find the best return on investment for design & applied arts students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in South Carolina
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 Trident Technical College, our #1 best value for design & applied arts in South Carolina. Set in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,546 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,620 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,116 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Trident Technical College generally make around $50,166. Set against $18,116 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Spartanburg Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Spartanburg, Spartanburg Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,071, while out-of-state students pay about $10,135. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $10,148 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Spartanburg Community College generally make around $41,598. Set against $10,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Horry Georgetown Technical College one of the best values for design & applied arts. Horry Georgetown Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Conway. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,518, with out-of-state students paying around $10,978. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $22,024. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt.
Midlands Technical College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Midlands Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of West Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $5,100, compared with $14,700 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $17,611. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Midlands Technical College generally make around $39,610. That is a strong return on a $17,611 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at York Technical College earned it the #5 place for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Rock Hill, York Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,036, while out-of-state students pay about $13,340. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $10,907. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $37,626. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Piedmont Technical College landed the #6 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Piedmont Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Greenwood. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,775, with out-of-state students paying around $6,923. Students borrow a median of $17,652 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $36,577. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Greenville Technical College earned the #7 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Greenville, Greenville Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,495, compared with $10,775 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,411 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Greenville Technical College generally make around $42,177. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Coastal Carolina University came in at #8 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Conway, Coastal Carolina University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,640, compared with $29,628 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $26,076. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Coastal Carolina University admits about 75% of applicants.
Tri County Technical College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Tri County Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Pendleton. Students from in state pay about $4,448 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,007 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,787 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Tri County Technical College generally make around $43,438. That is a strong return on a $15,787 median debt.
Winthrop University came in at #10 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Rock Hill, Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,678, while out-of-state students pay about $28,676. Students borrow a median of $29,917 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $40,119. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Bob Jones University came in at #11 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Greenville, Bob Jones University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $22,892. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Bob Jones University generally make around $36,424. That is a strong return on a $15,750 median debt.
Clemson University landed the #12 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. Students from in state pay about $15,554 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,866 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $26,000. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $46,689 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Clemson University admits about 38% of applicants.
Charleston Southern University landed the #13 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the city of Charleston, Charleston Southern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $32,520. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Charleston Southern University generally make around $46,288. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Anderson University Sc came in at #14 for value in design & applied arts this year. Anderson University Sc is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Anderson. In-state tuition and fees average $34,970. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $34,040. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Furman University came in at #15 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Greenville, Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,770. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $23,764. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $36,520. That is a strong return on a $23,764 median debt. Furman University admits about 43% of applicants.
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
View All Design & Applied Arts Rankings >
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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
