2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Virginia
[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 10 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 Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in design & applied arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
For return on investment in design & applied arts, no school beat Virginia Western Community College this year. Located in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,400, while out-of-state students pay about $11,838. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $13,715 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Virginia Western Community College earn a median of $31,440 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,715 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Germanna Community College one of the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the rural area of Locust Grove, Germanna Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,257 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,648. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $10,999. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Germanna Community College earn a median of $41,880 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,999 median debt.
Northern Virginia Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,891, with out-of-state students paying around $12,410. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $18,250. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of $33,232 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,250 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Tidewater Community College one of the best values for design & applied arts. Tidewater Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. In-state tuition and fees average $5,858, while out-of-state students pay about $12,296. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $10,195 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $22,935. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Thomas Nelson Community College earned it the #5 place for design & applied arts. Located in the suburb of Hampton, Thomas Nelson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,088, compared with $11,526 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,402 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Thomas Nelson Community College earn a median of $36,758 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Radford University placed #6 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the town of Radford, Radford University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,548, with out-of-state students paying around $25,633. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $34,096. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Radford University admits about 90% of applicants.
Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #7 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,720, compared with $39,884 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $25,937. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $36,156. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned the #8 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $25,802. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $46,761. Set against $25,802 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Marymount University came in at #9 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Arlington, Marymount University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,120. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Marymount University generally make around $44,175. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Marymount University admits about 93% of applicants.
Liberty University earned the #10 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $40,295. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
