2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k
75
Ranked Colleges
8,508
Degrees Awarded
$8,900
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Design & Applied Arts is the 36th most popular major in the country with 36,301 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, design and applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,426 and had an average of $25,481 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Southeast region, there were 8,508 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,342 and $26,806 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 75 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
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 in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Florida. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UF is a public institution located in Gainesville, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 87 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region design students whose families make $0-$30k list, UF has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UF is $65 for southeast region design students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at UF
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Florida State University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Florida State is a large school located in Tallahassee, Florida that handed out 48 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Florida State also took the #11 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Florida State University is $4,950 for southeast region design students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Florida State
Out of the 75 schools in the Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Appalachian State University landed the #3 spot on the list. Appalachian State University is a public institution located in Boone, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 167 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Appalachian State, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $7,354 for Southeast Region Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Appalachian State University.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Appalachian State University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Georgia Tech is a public institution located in Atlanta, Georgia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 73 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Georgia Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $8,818 for Southeast Region Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Georgia Tech
Out of the 75 schools in the Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, North Carolina State University landed the #5 spot on the list. North Carolina State University is a large public school situated in Raleigh, North Carolina. It awarded 82 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
NC State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend NC State is $7,283 for Southeast Region Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at North Carolina State University
Virginia Tech landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Virginia Tech is a public institution located in Blacksburg, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 62 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Virginia Tech, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $11,934 for Southeast Region Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Virginia Tech.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Virginia Tech
University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Tampa, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 26 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for USF Tampa is $4,176 for southeast region design students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at USF Tampa
Central Piedmont Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Central Piedmont Community College is a public institution located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 180 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Central Piedmont Community College is $5,676 for southeast region design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Central Piedmont Community College
Wake Technical Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wake Technical Community College is located in Raleigh, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 757 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Wake Technical Community College is $3,886 for southeast region design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Wake Technical Community College
Converse College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Converse is a small school located in Spartanburg, South Carolina that handed out 12 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Converse College is $20,672 for southeast region design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Converse Design & Applied Arts Report
Northern Kentucky University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Northern Kentucky University is located in Highland Heights, Kentucky and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 18 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $4,632 for southeast region design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend NKU.
Full NKU Design & Applied Arts Report
Miami Dade College landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. MDC is a public institution located in Miami, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 77 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Miami Dade College is $4,482 for Southeast Region Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Miami Dade College
University of Kentucky did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Lexington, Kentucky, this large public school awarded 31 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
UK not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $12,593 for Southeast Region Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Kentucky.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of Kentucky
West Virginia University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. WVU is a large public school situated in Morgantown, West Virginia. It awarded 75 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at WVU, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for West Virginia University is $10,014 for southeast region design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at West Virginia University
The University of Tennessee - Knoxville came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Knoxville, Tennessee, this large public school handed out 18 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
UT Knoxville also took the #17 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UT Knoxville is $10,433 for Southeast Region Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Full The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Design & Applied Arts Report
With a ranking of #16, Clemson University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Clemson, South Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 99 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Clemson, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Clemson is $13,744 for Southeast Region Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Clemson
Seminole State College of Florida landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Sanford, Florida, this fairly large public school handed out 209 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $7,064 for southeast region design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Seminole State.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Seminole State
Northern Virginia Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. Annandale, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 68 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Northern Virginia Community College is $7,515 for Southeast Region Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Northern Virginia Community College
With a ranking of #19, Gwinnett Technical College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and it awarded 116 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
GTC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Gwinnett Technical College is $11,273 for southeast region design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Gwinnett Technical College
The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Chattanooga, Tennessee is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 11 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for UT Chattanooga is $8,625 for southeast region design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at UT Chattanooga
University of Arkansas landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UARK is a large public school situated in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It awarded 51 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
UARK not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Arkansas is $12,003 for Southeast Region Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at UARK
Tidewater Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. Tidewater Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Norfolk, Virginia. It awarded 76 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Tidewater Community College is $5,652 for Southeast Region Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Tidewater Community College Design & Applied Arts Report
University of North Carolina at Greensboro came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a fairly large public school situated in Greensboro, North Carolina. It awarded 42 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $7,645 for Southeast Region Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UNC Greensboro.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at UNC Greensboro
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. VCU is a large school located in Richmond, Virginia that handed out 315 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region design students whose families make $0-$30k list, VCU has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Commonwealth University is $14,507 for Southeast Region Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University
Auburn University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Auburn is a large public school situated in Auburn, Alabama. It awarded 133 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Auburn also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend Auburn is $17,866 for southeast region design students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Auburn Design & Applied Arts Report
