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2023 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in North Carolina

26 Ranked Colleges
529 Degrees Awarded
$33,594 Avg Salary
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 36,301 people earned their degree in design and applied arts, making the major the 36th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, design and applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,426 and had an average of $25,481 in loans still to pay off.

Across North Carolina, there were 2,174 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,342 and $22,204 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 529 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,368 and $25,940 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina” ranking analyzed 26 colleges that offered a degree in design and applied arts. That schools that top this list have a program in design and applied arts in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Design & Applied Arts Schools

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina”.

Top 26 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in North Carolina

1
WPU crest
William Peace University
Raleigh, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend William Peace University. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina. William Peace University is located in Raleigh, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 23 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at William Peace University

2
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Meredith College
Raleigh, North Carolina

Out of the 26 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, Meredith College landed the #2 spot on the list. Meredith College is a small school located in Raleigh, North Carolina that handed out 30 bachelors’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Meredith

3
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St. Andrews University
Laurinburg, North Carolina

Out of the 26 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, St. Andrews University landed the #3 spot on the list. St. Andrews is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Laurinburg, North Carolina. It awarded 6 bachelors’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at St. Andrews University

4
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High Point University
High Point, North Carolina

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend High Point University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina list. This medium-sized school is located in High Point, North Carolina, and it awarded 46 bachelors’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full High Point Design & Applied Arts Report

5
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Chowan University
Murfreesboro, North Carolina

Out of the 26 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, Chowan University landed the #5 spot on the list. Chowan University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Murfreesboro, North Carolina. It awarded 7 bachelors’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Chowan University

6
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Salem College
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Salem College ranked #6 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina list. Salem College is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Salem College

7
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Appalachian State University
Boone, North Carolina

Appalachian State University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking. Appalachian State is a large school located in Boone, North Carolina that handed out 167 bachelors’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Appalachian State

8
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Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City, North Carolina

With a ranking of #8, Elizabeth City State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina list. Elizabeth City State University is located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at ECSU

9
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Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina

Queens University of Charlotte did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #9. Queens University of Charlotte is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Charlotte, North Carolina. It awarded 21 bachelors’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Queens University of Charlotte

10
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Pfeiffer University
Misenheimer, North Carolina

Pfeiffer University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking. Pfeiffer University is a small school located in Misenheimer, North Carolina that handed out 6 bachelors’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Pfeiffer University

11
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Methodist University
Fayetteville, North Carolina

With a ranking of #11, Methodist University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina list. Methodist University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Methodist

12
Lenoir - Rhyne University crest
Lenoir - Rhyne University
Hickory, North Carolina

Lenoir - Rhyne University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking. Hickory, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s design degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.

Full Lenoir - Rhyne University Design & Applied Arts Report

13
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Guilford College
Greensboro, North Carolina

Guilford College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking. Guilford College is located in Greensboro, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Guilford

14

University of North Carolina at Greensboro landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking. UNC Greensboro is located in Greensboro, North Carolina and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 42 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at UNC Greensboro

15
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University of Mount Olive
Mount Olive, North Carolina

With a ranking of #15, University of Mount Olive did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina list. This small school is located in Mount Olive, North Carolina, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of Mount Olive

16
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Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, North Carolina

Western Carolina University ranked #16 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina list. WCU is located in Cullowhee, North Carolina and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 24 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

Full Western Carolina University Design & Applied Arts Report

17
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Mars Hill University
Mars Hill, North Carolina

With a ranking of #17, Mars Hill University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina list. Mars Hill University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Mars Hill, North Carolina. It awarded 2 bachelors’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Mars Hill University

18
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North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, North Carolina

North Carolina A & T State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #18. Greensboro, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s design degrees to 17 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at NC A&T

19
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Gardner - Webb University
Boiling Springs, North Carolina

Gardner - Webb University ranked #19 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina list. Gardner - Webb University is located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Gardner - Webb Design & Applied Arts Report

20
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina State University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking. NC State is located in Raleigh, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 60 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full NC State Design & Applied Arts Report

21
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Campbell University
Buies Creek, North Carolina

Campbell University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking. Located in Buies Creek, North Carolina, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Campbell University

22
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East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina

East Carolina University ranked #22 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina list. This large school is located in Greenville, North Carolina, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at East Carolina University

23

University of North Carolina at Charlotte did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #23. University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a public institution located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at UNC Charlotte

24
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Piedmont International University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

With a ranking of #24, Piedmont International University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina list. Piedmont International University is a small school located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina that handed out 0 bachelors’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Piedmont International University

24
Barton College crest
Barton College
Wilson, North Carolina

Barton College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #24. Barton College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wilson, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 0 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Barton College

24
Living Arts College crest
Living Arts College
Raleigh, North Carolina

Living Arts College landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking. Living Arts College is a private for-profit institution located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 0 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Living Arts College

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References

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