2026 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 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 125 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for design & applied arts students.
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2026 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
Leading the list is El Centro College, our #1 best value for design & applied arts in the Southwest Region. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. In-state tuition and fees average $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,835 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $31,478. That is a strong return on a $11,835 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Pima Community College, which ranked #2. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Students from in state pay about $2,442 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,758. Students borrow a median of $10,655 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $40,977. That is a strong return on a $10,655 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at South Texas College earned it the #3 place for design & applied arts. South Texas College is a very large public school located in the city of McAllen. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,920, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $6,868. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from South Texas College generally make around $30,227. That is a strong return on a $6,868 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Austin Community College District, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,550, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Students borrow a median of $19,939 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $40,289. That is a strong return on a $19,939 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at San Juan College earned it the #5 place for design & applied arts. Located in the rural area of Farmington, San Juan College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,910, compared with $5,393 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $16,150 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $41,697. That is a strong return on a $16,150 median debt.
Oklahoma City Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,059, 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.
El Paso Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,274, compared with $5,314 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $8,542. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $29,086. That is a strong return on a $8,542 median debt.
San Antonio College earned the #8 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, San Antonio College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,412, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $11,839. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from San Antonio College generally make around $37,855. Set against $11,839 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Arizona College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. 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, compared with $4,500 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $11,635. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $48,826. That is a strong return on a $11,635 median debt.
The University Of Texas Pan American placed #10 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,799, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. 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. Set against $14,694 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Yavapai College came in at #11 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Prescott, Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,948, with out-of-state students paying around $9,486. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $14,087 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Yavapai College earn a median of $52,087 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Houston Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,040, with out-of-state students paying around $5,460. Students borrow a median of $19,223 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Houston Community College generally make around $40,365. That is a strong return on a $19,223 median debt.
Collin County Community College District placed #13 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. Students from in state pay about $2,014 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,064. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $6,900 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $33,456. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Jacinto Community College earned the #14 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,490, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $11,376. Design & Applied Arts graduates of San Jacinto Community College earn a median of $38,107 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,376 median debt.
Kilgore College landed the #15 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the town of Kilgore, Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,160, with out-of-state students paying around $5,256. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $16,734. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $44,322. Set against $16,734 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Plains College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. South Plains College is a large public school located in the town of Levelland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,733, while out-of-state students pay about $5,157. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $13,788. Design & Applied Arts graduates of South Plains College earn a median of $30,949 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lamar Institute Of Technology earned the #17 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Lamar Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Beaumont. Students from in state pay about $2,844 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,924 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $14,278. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Lamar Institute Of Technology generally make around $50,068. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pontotoc Technology Center placed #18 among the best values for design & applied arts. Pontotoc Technology Center is a small public school located in the rural area of Ada. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $44,846.
Angelina College earned the #19 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the town of Lufkin, Angelina College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,430, compared with $6,490 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $7,828. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $50,767. Set against $7,828 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Texas Womans University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,640, while out-of-state students pay about $18,480. Students borrow a median of $24,211 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Texas Womans University earn a median of $54,611 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Tyler Junior College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Tyler Junior College is a large public school located in the city of Tyler. In-state tuition and fees average $2,424, with out-of-state students paying around $4,536. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $14,869 in student loans. 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 came in at #22 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,905 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,745 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $26,988. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Lamar University earn a median of $52,678 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,988 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Gordon Cooper Technology Center placed #23 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the town of Shawnee, Gordon Cooper Technology Center is a small public institution. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Gordon Cooper Technology Center generally make around $44,822.
Texas State Technical College earned the #24 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Texas State Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Waco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,212, while out-of-state students pay about $11,812. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $15,679. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Texas State Technical College generally make around $23,345. That is a strong return on a $15,679 median debt.
Texas A And M University Commerce placed #25 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,026, with out-of-state students paying around $22,326. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $23,796 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Texas A And M University Commerce earn a median of $54,201 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,796 median debt. Texas A And M University Commerce admits about 92% of applicants.
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
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 125 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 42 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.
