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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Southeast Region

208 Ranked Colleges
8,508 Degrees Awarded
$30,700 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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 the Southeast region, there were 8,508 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,342 and $26,806 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region” ranking looked at 208 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in design and applied arts. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in design and applied arts.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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The design school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region”.

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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Southeast Region

1
Nossi College of Art crest
Nossi College of Art
Madison, Tennessee

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Nossi College of Art. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region list. Nossi College of Art is a small private for-profit school situated in Madison, Tennessee. It awarded 42 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Nossi College of Art

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend AI Miami International University of Art and Design. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region list. International Fine Arts College is a small school located in Miami, Florida that handed out 92 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Full AI Miami International University of Art and Design Design & Applied Arts Report

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ringling College of Art and Design. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region list. This small school is located in Sarasota, Florida, and it awarded 114 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Ringling College

4

Out of the 208 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Savannah College of Art and Design landed the #4 spot on the list. Savannah College of Art and Design is a fairly large school located in Savannah, Georgia that handed out 1,069 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Savannah College of Art and Design

5

Out of the 208 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, The Art Institute of Atlanta landed the #5 spot on the list. The Art Institute of Atlanta is a private for-profit institution located in Atlanta, Georgia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 28 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Ai Atlanta

6
Ai Virginia Beach crest
The Art Institute of Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, Virginia

The Art Institute of Virginia Beach came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region ranking. This small school is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and it awarded 9 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Ai Virginia Beach Design & Applied Arts Report

7
WPU crest
William Peace University
Raleigh, North Carolina

William Peace University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #7. WPU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Raleigh, North Carolina. It awarded 23 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Full William Peace University Design & Applied Arts Report

8
Full Sail University crest
Full Sail University
Winter Park, Florida

Full Sail University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Winter Park, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 458 students in 2020-2021.

Full Full Sail University Design & Applied Arts Report

9
Delta College of Arts & Technology crest
Delta College of Arts & Technology
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Delta College of Arts & Technology did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #9. Delta College of Arts & Technology is a small school located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana that handed out 5 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Delta College of Arts & Technology Design & Applied Arts Report

10
Marymount crest
Marymount University
Arlington, Virginia

Marymount University ranked #10 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region list. Marymount is a small school located in Arlington, Virginia that handed out 60 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Marymount University Design & Applied Arts Report

11
Meredith crest
Meredith College
Raleigh, North Carolina

Meredith College ranked #11 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region list. Meredith is located in Raleigh, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 30 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Meredith

12
St. Andrews crest
St. Andrews University
Laurinburg, North Carolina

With a ranking of #12, St. Andrews University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region list. This small school is located in Laurinburg, North Carolina, and it awarded 6 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at St. Andrews

13
CAU crest
Clark Atlanta University
Atlanta, Georgia

Clark Atlanta University ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region list. CAU is a small school located in Atlanta, Georgia that handed out 38 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Clark Atlanta University

14
JBU crest
John Brown University
Siloam Springs, Arkansas

With a ranking of #14, John Brown University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region list. JBU is located in Siloam Springs, Arkansas and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 24 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at John Brown University

15
Wesleyan crest
Kentucky Wesleyan College
Owensboro, Kentucky

Kentucky Wesleyan College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region ranking. This small school is located in Owensboro, Kentucky, and it awarded 7 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Kentucky Wesleyan College

16

Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region list. VCU is a large school located in Richmond, Virginia that handed out 315 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%.

Full VCU Design & Applied Arts Report

17
Flagler St. Augustine crest
Flagler College - St Augustine
Saint Augustine, Florida

Flagler College - St Augustine came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in Saint Augustine, Florida, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 31 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.

Full Flagler St. Augustine Design & Applied Arts Report

18
High Point crest
High Point University
High Point, North Carolina

High Point University ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region list. High Point is a medium-sized school located in High Point, North Carolina that handed out 46 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

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 High Point

19
Chowan University crest
Chowan University
Murfreesboro, North Carolina

Chowan University ranked #19 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region list. Chowan University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Murfreesboro, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Chowan University Design & Applied Arts Report

20
Concord University crest
Concord University
Athens, West Virginia

Concord University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #20. Athens, West Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.

Full Concord University Design & Applied Arts Report

21
Converse crest
Converse College
Spartanburg, South Carolina

Converse College ranked #21 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region list. Converse is located in Spartanburg, South Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 12 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

Full Converse Design & Applied Arts Report

22
Salem crest
Salem College
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Salem College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Salem College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Salem

23
Appalachian State crest
Appalachian State University
Boone, North Carolina

With a ranking of #23, Appalachian State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region list. Located in Boone, North Carolina, this large public school awarded 167 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Appalachian State University

24
Maryville College crest
Maryville College
Maryville, Tennessee

Maryville College ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region list. This small school is located in Maryville, Tennessee, and it awarded 7 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Maryville College

25
Ouachita Baptist crest
Ouachita Baptist University
Arkadelphia, Arkansas

Ouachita Baptist University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #25. Ouachita Baptist is a small school located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas that handed out 12 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Ouachita Baptist University Design & Applied Arts Report

Rest of the Best 32 in Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Southeast Region

Not only did these schools make the top 32 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
ECSU crest
Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
27
CSU crest
Charleston Southern University
Charleston, South Carolina
28
Queens crest
Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
29
Longwood crest
Longwood University
Farmville, Virginia
30
YHC crest
Young Harris College
Young Harris, Georgia
31
Bob Jones University crest
Bob Jones University
Greenville, South Carolina
32
West Liberty University crest
West Liberty University
West Liberty, West Virginia

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Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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