2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southwest Region
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong design & applied arts education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 71 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for design & applied arts students.
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2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in design & applied arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
El Centro College tops our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,730, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,835 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $31,478. Set against $11,835 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes South Texas College one of the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,920 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,868 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $30,227 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at El Paso Community College earned it the #3 place for design & applied arts. Set in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $8,542 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $29,086. Set against $8,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Antonio College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #4 spot this year. San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,412, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Students borrow a median of $11,839 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from San Antonio College generally make around $37,855. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes The University Of Texas Pan American one of the best values for design & applied arts. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,799, while out-of-state students pay about $19,645. Students borrow a median of $14,694 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $46,404. That is a strong return on a $14,694 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Oklahoma City Community College earned the #6 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,059 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,810 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $14,250. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Oklahoma City Community College earn a median of $30,101 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Amarillo College came in at #7 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,136, with out-of-state students paying around $4,704. Students borrow a median of $15,720 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $41,053. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Austin Community College District ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,550, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $19,939. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $40,289. Set against $19,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central New Mexico Community College earned the #9 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,060, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $10,112 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Central New Mexico Community College earn a median of $34,751 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,112 median debt.
Central Arizona College came in at #10 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the rural area of Coolidge, Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,250, with out-of-state students paying around $4,500. Students borrow a median of $11,635 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Central Arizona College generally make around $48,826. That is a strong return on a $11,635 median debt.
Collin County Community College District placed #11 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,014, while out-of-state students pay about $6,064. Students borrow a median of $6,900 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Collin County Community College District earn a median of $33,456 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,900 median debt.
Kilgore College placed #12 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the town of Kilgore, Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,160, while out-of-state students pay about $5,256. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $16,734. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Kilgore College generally make around $44,322. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Houston Community College landed the #13 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,040, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $19,223. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Houston Community College generally make around $40,365. Set against $19,223 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Plains College earned the #14 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,733, with out-of-state students paying around $5,157. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $13,788. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $30,949. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Angelina College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Angelina College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Lufkin. In-state tuition and fees average $3,430, while out-of-state students pay about $6,490. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $7,828. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Angelina College earn a median of $50,767 early in their careers. Set against $7,828 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Yavapai College came in at #16 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Prescott, Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,948, compared with $9,486 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,087 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Yavapai College generally make around $52,087. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Blinn College came in at #17 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the town of Brenham, Blinn College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,890, compared with $11,370 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $16,465 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $43,408. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tyler Junior College landed the #18 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the city of Tyler, Tyler Junior College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,424, with out-of-state students paying around $4,536. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $14,869. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Tyler Junior College earn a median of $43,348 early in their careers. Set against $14,869 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lamar University landed the #19 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Lamar University is a very large public school located in the city of Beaumont. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,905, while out-of-state students pay about $18,745. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $26,988 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $52,678. That is a strong return on a $26,988 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Glendale Community College Glendale Az placed #20 among the best values for design & applied arts. Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glendale. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $15,996 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Glendale Community College Glendale Az earn a median of $51,483 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gordon Cooper Technology Center ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Gordon Cooper Technology Center is a small public school located in the town of Shawnee. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Gordon Cooper Technology Center generally make around $44,822.
Tulsa Technology Center placed #22 among the best values for design & applied arts. Tulsa Technology Center is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Tulsa. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,384 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $32,406. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Metro Technology Centers landed the #23 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the city of Oklahoma City, Metro Technology Centers is a small public institution. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $15,833. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $48,236. That is a strong return on a $15,833 median debt.
Texas A And M University Commerce placed #24 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,026 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,326 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,796 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Texas A And M University Commerce generally make around $54,201. That is a strong return on a $23,796 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Central Technology Center earned the #25 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the rural area of Drumright, Central Technology Center is a small public institution. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $36,351.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s design & applied arts value ranking:
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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 · 71 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 71 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.
