2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Kentucky
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes 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.
AA in Digital Photography
Take the first step toward a career of visual expression and doing what you love with this online associate degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
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BA in Digital Photography
Learn to create a striking portfolio and hone the skills you need to succeed in the world of professional photography with this online digital photography degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
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2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Kentucky
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the design & applied arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
Our analysis ranked Hazard Community And Technical College the best value for a degree in design & applied arts in Kentucky. Set in the town of Hazard, Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $12,212 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Hazard Community And Technical College earn a median of $32,626 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Big Sandy Community And Technical College one of the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the town of Prestonsburg, Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $11,588. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Big Sandy Community And Technical College earn a median of $33,956 early in their careers. Set against $11,588 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northern Kentucky University earned it the #3 place for design & applied arts. Set in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,088, while out-of-state students pay about $21,912. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $25,572 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $52,565. That is a strong return on a $25,572 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
A rank of #4 makes Western Kentucky University one of the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,652, compared with $27,000 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $44,778. Set against $24,499 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kentucky came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $27,000. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $42,168 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Kentucky Wesleyan College came in at #6 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Owensboro, Kentucky Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,673. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $25,333. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Kentucky Wesleyan College generally make around $32,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
