2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
Design & Applied Arts is the 34th most popular major in the country with 36,854 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, design and applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $29,542 and had an average of $27,114 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Southwest region, there were 3,229 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,160 and $27,678 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 762 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,605 and $16,886 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 17 colleges that offered a degree in design and applied arts. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent design and applied arts programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the design and applied arts program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
Featured schools near , edit
One Size Does Not Fit All
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 “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.
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.
Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 17 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Austin Community College District. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Austin Community College District is a large public school situated in Austin, Texas. It awarded 55 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
Austin Community College District did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Austin Community College District is $3,134 for southwest region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Austin Community College District
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Collin County Community College District. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. McKinney, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 77 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Collin County Community College District, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $4,565 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Collin County Community College District.
Full Collin County Community College District Design & Applied Arts Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. OSU Institute of Technology is a small school located in Okmulgee, Oklahoma that handed out 13 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at OSU Institute of Technology, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $4,771 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend OSU Institute of Technology.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at OSU Institute of Technology
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Pima Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Pima Community College is located in Tucson, Arizona and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.
Pima County Community College District also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend Pima Community College is $2,574 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Pima County Community College District
Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, San Antonio College landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in San Antonio, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 22 degrees to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at San Antonio College, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $5,183 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend San Antonio College.
Texas State Technical College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Texas State Technical College is located in Waco, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 52 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k list, TSTC has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $8,535 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend TSTC.
San Jacinto Community College landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. San Jacinto College is located in Pasadena, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 28 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.
San Jacinto College also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for San Jacinto College is $8,232 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Kilgore College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Kilgore, Texas, and it awarded 15 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
Kilgore College also took the #13 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Kilgore College is $6,668 for southwest region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a ranking of #9, Scottsdale Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Scottsdale Community College is a medium-sized school located in Scottsdale, Arizona that handed out 28 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
Scottsdale Community College also took the #5 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $8,963 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Scottsdale Community College.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Scottsdale Community College
Phoenix College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, this medium-sized public school awarded 26 degrees to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k list, Phoenix College has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Phoenix College is $8,169 for southwest region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Phoenix College
Mesa Community College landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Mesa, Arizona is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.
Mesa Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Mesa Community College is $8,791 for southwest region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Mesa Community College
South Plains College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. South Plains College is a medium-sized school located in Levelland, Texas that handed out 12 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at South Plains College, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for South Plains College is $6,211 for southwest region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Sessions College for Professional Design landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Sessions College for Professional Design is a private for-profit institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Sessions College also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for Sessions College for Professional Design is $10,878 for southwest region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.
The Art Institute of Houston ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ai Houston is a small private for-profit school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 8 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
Ai Houston not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $21,248 for southwest region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ai Houston.
The Art Institute of Dallas came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Dallas, Texas, this small private for-profit school handed out 10 degrees to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.
The Art Institute of Dallas also took the #6 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The Art Institute of Dallas is $20,737 for southwest region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full The Art Institute of Dallas Design & Applied Arts Report
The Art Institute of San Antonio did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. The Art Institute of San Antonio is located in San Antonio, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ai San Antonio, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for The Art Institute of San Antonio is $20,988 for southwest region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at The Art Institute of San Antonio
The Art Institute of Austin landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Austin, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associates’s design degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k list, Ai Austin has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $21,877 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend The Art Institute of Austin.
Narrow Results by Region
Southeast
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region
Rocky Mountains
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Rocky Mountains Region
Middle Atlantic
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Middle Atlantic Region
Southwest
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region
New England
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the New England Region
Plains States
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
Far Western US
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region
Great Lakes
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
Narrow Results by State
Switch to a Similar Major
General Visual & Performing Arts
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for General Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region
Drama & Theater Arts
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region
Fine & Studio Arts
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Fine & Studio Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region
Arts & Media Management
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Arts & Media Management (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region
Dance
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Dance (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region
Film, Video & Photographic Arts
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Film, Video & Photographic Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region
Music
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Music (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region
Switch to a More Focused Major
Visual Communications
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Visual Communications (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region
Commercial Photography
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Commercial Photography (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region
Interior Design
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Interior Design (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region
Illustration
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Illustration (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region
Commercial & Advertising Art
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Commercial & Advertising Art (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region
Fashion Design
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Fashion Design (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region
Graphic Design
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Graphic Design (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region
Game & Interactive Media Design
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Game & Interactive Media Design (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region
Design & Applied Arts students in the Southwest Region
Most Focused Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Southwest Region
Design & Applied Arts students in the Southwest Region
Most Popular Associate Degree Online Design & Applied Arts Schools
Design & Applied Arts students in the Southwest Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region
Design & Applied Arts students with family income less than $30k in the Southwest Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region
Design & Applied Arts students with family income $48-$75k in the Southwest Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income Over $110k) in the Southwest Region
Design & Applied Arts students with family income exceeding $110k in the Southwest Region
Highest Paid Associate Degree Design & Applied Arts Graduates in the Southwest Region
Design & Applied Arts students in the Southwest Region
Most Popular Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Southwest Region
Design & Applied Arts students in the Southwest Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Southwest Region (With Aid)
Design & Applied Arts students getting aid in the Southwest Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region
Design & Applied Arts students with family income $30-$48k in the Southwest Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region
Design & Applied Arts students with family income $75-$110k in the Southwest Region
Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Featured Performing Arts Schools
Request Info |
Southern New Hampshire University
You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More > |