2026 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in North Carolina
Design & Applied Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their design & applied arts programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 51 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for design & applied arts students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in North Carolina
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 North Carolina State University At Raleigh this year for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. About 68 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $48,940 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from North Carolina State University At Raleigh
High Point University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in design & applied arts, ranking #2. High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of High Point. High Point University graduates 72% of students within six years. High Point University awarded about 66 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from High Point University earn around $113,352 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,785 to complete this degree.
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Appalachian State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 119 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Appalachian State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Appalachian State University generally make around $34,722. Appalachian State University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at East Carolina University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 19 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at East Carolina University in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from East Carolina University earn around $39,992 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Forsyth Technical Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Winston-Salem. Forsyth Technical Community College awarded about 17 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Forsyth Technical Community College earn around $29,715 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,374.
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University Of North Carolina At Charlotte landed the #6 spot for design & applied arts this year. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 25 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn around $51,799 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,673.
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Meredith College came in at #7 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, Meredith College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 70% of students finish within six years. Meredith College awarded about 27 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Meredith College generally make around $36,357. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Carolina At Greensboro came in at #8 for design & applied arts this year. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 40 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn around $38,858 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Wake Technical Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public institution. About 481 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Wake Technical Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Wake Technical Community College generally make around $32,153. Students borrow a median of $13,414 to complete this degree.
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Central Piedmont Community College placed #10 among the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. Central Piedmont Community College awarded about 626 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $30,979 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,861 to complete this degree.
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Guilford Technical Community College landed the #11 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Jamestown, Guilford Technical Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 70 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Guilford Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Guilford Technical Community College earn around $24,827 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,250.
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Western Carolina University came in at #12 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public university. About 60% of students finish within six years. Western Carolina University awarded about 22 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $32,842 in their early career. Western Carolina University graduates carry a median of $29,911 in student loans.
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Fayetteville Technical Community College placed #13 among the best design & applied arts schools. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Fayetteville Technical Community College awarded about 220 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Fayetteville Technical Community College generally make around $40,584. Students borrow a median of $16,909 to complete this degree.
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Catawba Valley Community College placed #14 among the best design & applied arts schools. Catawba Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Hickory. About 21 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Catawba Valley Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Catawba Valley Community College generally make around $38,219. Catawba Valley Community College graduates carry a median of $9,842 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Catawba Valley Community College
Wayne Community College came in at #15 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public university. About 61 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Wayne Community College in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Wayne Community College earn a median of $33,116 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree.
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Alamance Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Graham, Alamance Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 183 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Alamance Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $37,585 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $6,625 to complete this degree.
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Cape Fear Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College is a very large public university. About 29 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Cape Fear Community College in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Cape Fear Community College earn a median of $42,889 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,388 to complete this degree.
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Wilkes Community College placed #18 among the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public university. Wilkes Community College awarded about 30 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Wilkes Community College earn around $36,341 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,125.
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Randolph Community College landed the #19 spot for design & applied arts this year. Randolph Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Asheboro. About 70 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Randolph Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $32,198 in their early career.
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Queens University Of Charlotte ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Queens University Of Charlotte is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Charlotte. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. About 18 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Queens University Of Charlotte in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Queens University Of Charlotte generally make around $31,611. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Pitt Community College placed #21 among the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of Winterville, Pitt Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 33 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Pitt Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $43,022 in their early career. Pitt Community College graduates carry a median of $19,741 in student loans.
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Peace College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Raleigh. Peace College graduates 45% of students within six years. Peace College awarded about 22 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Peace College earn around $33,536 in the first couple years of their career. Peace College graduates carry a median of $24,978 in student loans.
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Lenoir Community College landed the #23 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the town of Kinston, Lenoir Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 28 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Lenoir Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $38,736 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,984.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Lenoir Community College
Mitchell Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the town of Statesville, Mitchell Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 72 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Mitchell Community College in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Mitchell Community College earn a median of $40,450 early in their careers. Mitchell Community College graduates carry a median of $6,313 in student loans.
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North Carolina A And T State University came in at #25 for design & applied arts this year. North Carolina A And T State University is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. North Carolina A And T State University graduates 57% of students within six years. About 15 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at North Carolina A And T State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $30,470 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,958.
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Rest of the Top 29 Design & Applied Arts Schools
These schools also placed among the best for design & applied arts this year:
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 51 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.
