2026 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in South Carolina
Design & Applied Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 19 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best design & applied arts schools.
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Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in South Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall design & applied arts education in South Carolina.
Top Schools in Design & Applied Arts
Clemson University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in design & applied arts. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. About 87% of students finish within six years. About 78 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Clemson University in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Clemson University earn around $46,689 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Clemson University
Furman University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #2 spot this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Greenville. Furman University graduates 79% of students within six years. Furman University awarded about 15 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Furman University earn around $36,520 in the first couple years of their career. Furman University graduates carry a median of $23,764 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Furman University
A rank of #3 makes Winthrop University one of the top schools for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Rock Hill, Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 32 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Winthrop University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Winthrop University earn around $40,119 in the first couple years of their career. Winthrop University graduates carry a median of $29,917 in student loans.
Get the full design & applied arts details for Winthrop University
Tri County Technical College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in design & applied arts, ranking #4. Tri County Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Pendleton. About 14 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Tri County Technical College in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Tri County Technical College earn a median of $43,438 early in their careers. Tri County Technical College graduates carry a median of $15,787 in student loans.
Get the full design & applied arts details for Tri County Technical College
Anderson University Sc came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Anderson. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Anderson University Sc in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $34,040 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Anderson University Sc
Spartanburg Community College came in at #6 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Spartanburg, Spartanburg Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Spartanburg Community College awarded about 25 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $41,598 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,148 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Spartanburg Community College
Trident Technical College placed #7 among the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public institution. About 92 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Trident Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Trident Technical College earn around $50,166 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,116.
Get the full design & applied arts details for Trident Technical College
Coastal Carolina University placed #8 among the best design & applied arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Conway. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 36 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Coastal Carolina University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $26,076 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Coastal Carolina University
Horry Georgetown Technical College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Conway, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Horry Georgetown Technical College awarded about 36 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Horry Georgetown Technical College earn a median of $22,024 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Horry Georgetown Technical College
Piedmont Technical College placed #10 among the best design & applied arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Greenwood. Piedmont Technical College awarded about 12 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Piedmont Technical College earn around $36,577 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,652 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Piedmont Technical College
Charleston Southern University landed the #11 spot for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Charleston, Charleston Southern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Charleston Southern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Charleston Southern University earn around $46,288 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Charleston Southern University
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 19 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.
