by our College Data Analytics Team
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 39 schools to find the best return on investment for design & applied arts students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the design & applied arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in design & applied arts, no school beat El Centro College this year. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Students borrow a median of $11,835 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $31,478. That is a strong return on a $11,835 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes South Texas College one of the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,920, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. 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. That is a strong return on a $6,868 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas Pan American earned it the #3 place for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,799, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $14,694. Design & Applied Arts graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $46,404 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
El Paso 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 El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,274, while out-of-state students pay about $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. That is a strong return on a $8,542 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes San Antonio College one of the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of San Antonio, San Antonio College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,839 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of San Antonio College earn a median of $37,855 early in their careers. Set against $11,839 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Austin Community College District earned the #6 position for value in design & applied arts this year. 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. Students borrow a median of $19,939 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $40,289 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Amarillo College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Amarillo College is a large public school located in the city of Amarillo. Students from in state pay about $2,136 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,704 for out-of-state students. 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. Set against $15,720 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Collin County Community College District came in at #8 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,014, 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.
Houston Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 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. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $19,223 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Houston Community College earn a median of $40,365 early in their careers. Set against $19,223 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kilgore College landed the #10 spot for design & applied arts value this year. 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, compared with $5,256 for out-of-state students. 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. Set against $16,734 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Plains College placed #11 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,733 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $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 placed #12 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the town of Lufkin, Angelina College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,430, compared with $6,490 for out-of-state students. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tyler Junior College earned the #13 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Tyler Junior College is a large public school located in the city of Tyler. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,424, compared with $4,536 for out-of-state students. 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. That is a strong return on a $14,869 median debt.
Lamar University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Lamar University is a very large public school located in the city of Beaumont. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,905, compared with $18,745 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $26,988. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Lamar University generally make around $52,678. That is a strong return on a $26,988 median debt. Lamar University admits about 86% of applicants.
Texas A And M University Commerce ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,026, with out-of-state students paying around $22,326. Students borrow a median of $23,796 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Texas A And M University Commerce earn a median of $54,201 early in their careers. Set against $23,796 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Blinn College came in at #16 for value in design & applied arts this year. Blinn College is a very large public school located in the town of Brenham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,890, with out-of-state students paying around $11,370. Students borrow a median of $16,465 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $43,408. That is a strong return on a $16,465 median debt.
San Jacinto Community College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Students from in state pay about $2,490 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,376 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $38,107. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Texas At Arlington earned the #18 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,950 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,582 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $21,632. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Arlington generally make around $55,304. That is a strong return on a $21,632 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Texas State Technical College came in at #19 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Waco, Texas State Technical College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,212 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,812. Students borrow a median of $15,679 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Texas State Technical College generally make around $23,345. Set against $15,679 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lamar Institute Of Technology earned the #20 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,844, with out-of-state students paying around $12,924. Students borrow a median of $14,278 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Lamar Institute Of Technology generally make around $50,068. That is a strong return on a $14,278 median debt.
Prairie View A And M University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the rural area of Prairie View, Prairie View A And M University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,299, compared with $26,874 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $29,824. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $53,784. Set against $29,824 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
University Of Houston landed the #22 spot for design & applied arts value this year. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,717, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $47,461 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Stephen F Austin State University came in at #23 for value in design & applied arts this year. Stephen F Austin State University is a large public school located in the town of Nacogdoches. In-state tuition and fees average $11,128, with out-of-state students paying around $20,968. Students borrow a median of $24,759 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $42,197. That is a strong return on a $24,759 median debt. Stephen F Austin State University admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of North Texas placed #24 among the best values for design & applied arts. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. Students from in state pay about $11,309 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,149. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $22,288 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of North Texas generally make around $33,867. That is a strong return on a $22,288 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Texas State University San Marcos earned the #25 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $22,930. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $24,353. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $44,396 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in design & applied arts:
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 · 39 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 39 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.