2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Arkansas
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for design & applied arts students.
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Featured Design & Applied Arts Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
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2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Arkansas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in design & applied arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
Leading the list is Northwest Arkansas Community College, our #1 best value for design & applied arts in Arkansas. Set in the city of Bentonville, Northwest Arkansas Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,342 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,238. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $12,479 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $40,671. Set against $12,479 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Arkansas State University Main Campus one of the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,090, with out-of-state students paying around $14,522. Students borrow a median of $23,399 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $35,970. That is a strong return on a $23,399 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Arkansas Tech University earned it the #3 place for design & applied arts. Arkansas Tech University is a large public school located in the town of Russellville. Students from in state pay about $8,674 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,668. Students borrow a median of $28,950 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $20,285. That is a strong return on a $28,950 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Central Arkansas one of the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Conway, University Of Central Arkansas is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,523 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,023. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $22,920 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Central Arkansas generally make around $43,106. Set against $22,920 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Central Arkansas admits about 90% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at University Of Arkansas, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $29,966. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $23,881. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Arkansas earn a median of $41,782 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Harding University came in at #6 for value in design & applied arts this year. Harding University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Searcy. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,962. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $26,715. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Harding University earn a median of $35,582 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
John Brown University earned the #7 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the town of Siloam Springs, John Brown University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $31,756 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of John Brown University earn a median of $24,893 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. John Brown University admits about 76% of applicants.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
- 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.
