2027 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southwest Region
Design & Applied Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 75 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 the Southwest Region
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 The University Of Texas At Austin this year for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 127 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $44,506. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from The University Of Texas At Austin
Southern Methodist University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in design & applied arts, ranking #2. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 20 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Southern Methodist University in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $70,632 in their early career. Southern Methodist University graduates carry a median of $20,712 in student loans.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Southern Methodist University
Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Oklahoma State University Main Campus graduates 68% of students within six years. About 51 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Oklahoma State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Oklahoma State University Main Campus generally make around $50,993. Typical student debt for the program is $22,337.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Oklahoma State University Main Campus
Arizona State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 244 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Arizona State University earn around $41,589 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Arizona State University
Texas Christian University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 57 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Texas Christian University in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Texas Christian University earn around $60,035 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,960 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Texas Christian University
Baylor University placed #6 among the best design & applied arts schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Waco. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 34 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Baylor University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Baylor University generally make around $39,333. Typical student debt for the program is $26,500.
Get the full design & applied arts details for Baylor University
Texas State University San Marcos landed the #7 spot for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 185 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Texas State University San Marcos in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Texas State University San Marcos earn around $44,396 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,353.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Texas State University San Marcos
Collin County Community College District placed #8 among the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public university. Collin County Community College District awarded about 257 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Collin County Community College District generally make around $33,456. Collin County Community College District graduates carry a median of $6,900 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Collin County Community College District
University Of Arizona ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Arizona awarded about 49 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $50,834. Students borrow a median of $21,861 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for University Of Arizona
University Of North Texas earned the #10 position for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public university. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 147 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Texas in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of North Texas generally make around $33,867. University Of North Texas graduates carry a median of $22,288 in student loans.
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University Of Houston ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 44 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Houston in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of Houston earn around $47,461 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Houston graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Northern Arizona University landed the #12 spot for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Flagstaff. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 97 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Northern Arizona University in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $33,964 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,245 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Northern Arizona University
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earned the #13 position for design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 73 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of $37,755 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Texas Tech University placed #14 among the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 50 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Texas Tech University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Texas Tech University earn around $50,332 in the first couple years of their career. Texas Tech University graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans.
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Arizona State University Skysong earned the #15 position for design & applied arts this year. Arizona State University Skysong is a very large public school located in the city of Scottsdale. There were roughly 117 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University Skysong in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Arizona State University Skysong earn around $41,589 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Arizona State University Skysong
Scottsdale Community College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This large public university is located in the rural area of Scottsdale. There were roughly 77 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Scottsdale Community College in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Scottsdale Community College earn a median of $38,676 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,084 to complete this degree.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Scottsdale Community College
University Of Central Oklahoma came in at #17 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Edmond, University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public university. Roughly 37% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 36 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Central Oklahoma in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of Central Oklahoma earn around $42,619 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,875 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for University Of Central Oklahoma
Grand Canyon University placed #18 among the best design & applied arts schools. Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. About 44% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 109 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Grand Canyon University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Grand Canyon University generally make around $38,976. Grand Canyon University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Grand Canyon University
West Texas A And M University earned the #19 position for design & applied arts this year. Located in the town of Canyon, West Texas A And M University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. About 16 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at West Texas A And M University in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of West Texas A And M University earn a median of $43,515 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,333 to complete this degree.
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Dallas Baptist University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Dallas Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dallas. Dallas Baptist University graduates 58% of students within six years. About 18 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Dallas Baptist University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Dallas Baptist University generally make around $48,822. Typical student debt for the program is $22,819.
Get the full design & applied arts details for Dallas Baptist University
Austin Community College District landed the #21 spot for design & applied arts this year. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. There were roughly 150 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Austin Community College District in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Austin Community College District earn around $40,289 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,939.
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The University Of Texas At Arlington came in at #22 for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Arlington. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 20 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Arlington in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from The University Of Texas At Arlington earn around $55,304 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,632.
See the full design & applied arts program report for The University Of Texas At Arlington
Abilene Christian University placed #23 among the best design & applied arts schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Abilene. Abilene Christian University graduates 59% of students within six years. About 11 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Abilene Christian University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Abilene Christian University generally make around $38,553. Students borrow a median of $21,875 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Abilene Christian University
Glendale Community College Glendale Az came in at #24 for design & applied arts this year. Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glendale. Glendale Community College Glendale Az awarded about 24 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $51,483 in their early career. Glendale Community College Glendale Az graduates carry a median of $15,996 in student loans.
Get the full design & applied arts details for Glendale Community College Glendale Az
Mesa Community College landed the #25 spot for design & applied arts this year. Mesa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Mesa. There were roughly 68 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Mesa Community College in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Mesa Community College earn a median of $54,730 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Mesa Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Design & Applied Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s design & applied arts ranking:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 75 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.
