2026 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Alabama
Design & Applied Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools to find the best for design & applied arts students.
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Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in Alabama
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the design & applied arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Design & Applied Arts
No school ranked higher than Auburn University this year for design & applied arts. This very large public university is located in the city of Auburn. About 82% of students finish within six years. Auburn University awarded about 141 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $46,585 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full design & applied arts details for Auburn University
Samford University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of Birmingham, Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 77% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 33 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Samford University in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Samford University earn a median of $41,323 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Samford University
The University Of Alabama is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in design & applied arts, ranking #3. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. About 73% of students finish within six years. About 61 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at The University Of Alabama in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from The University Of Alabama generally make around $44,215. Students borrow a median of $26,505 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for The University Of Alabama
Spring Hill College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Spring Hill College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Mobile. Spring Hill College graduates 52% of students within six years. About 11 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Spring Hill College in the most recent year.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Spring Hill College
Troy University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Troy University is a large public school located in the town of Troy. Troy University graduates 49% of students within six years. Troy University awarded about 32 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Troy University generally make around $46,723. Troy University graduates carry a median of $26,439 in student loans.
Get the full design & applied arts details for Troy University
George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville placed #6 among the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the rural area of Hanceville, George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville is a moderately-sized public institution. George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville awarded about 20 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville earn a median of $40,017 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,146 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville
John C Calhoun State Community College came in at #7 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Tanner, John C Calhoun State Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 16 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at John C Calhoun State Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $42,916 in their early career. John C Calhoun State Community College graduates carry a median of $13,839 in student loans.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at John C Calhoun State Community College
Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus came in at #8 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Birmingham, Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus is a mid-sized public university. Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus awarded about 13 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $40,090 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,769.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 12 schools evaluated.
- 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.
