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2023 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in North Carolina

26 Ranked Colleges
529 Degrees Awarded
$33,594 Avg Salary
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2021-2022, 36,323 people earned their degree in design & applied arts, making the major the 36th most popular in the United States. In , design & applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $32,210 and had an average of $24,297 in loans still to pay off.

Across North Carolina, there were 1,766 design & applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,914 and $22,399 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 529 design & applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,381 and $23,483 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina” ranking looked at 26 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in design & applied arts. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their design & applied arts program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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.

Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina

The colleges and universities below are the best for north carolina bachelor’s degree design students.

Top 26 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in North Carolina

1
WPU crest
William Peace University
Raleigh, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend William Peace University. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina. William Peace University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at William Peace University

2
Meredith crest
Meredith College
Raleigh, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Meredith College. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina. Meredith is located in Raleigh, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 36 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Meredith College

3
St. Andrews crest
St. Andrews University
Laurinburg, North Carolina

Out of the 26 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, St. Andrews University landed the #3 spot on the list. St. Andrews is located in Laurinburg, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at St. Andrews University

4
High Point crest
High Point University
High Point, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend High Point University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina. This medium-sized school is located in High Point, North Carolina, and it awarded 62 bachelors’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full High Point University Design & Applied Arts Report

5
Chowan University crest
Chowan University
Murfreesboro, North Carolina

Out of the 26 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, Chowan University landed the #5 spot on the list. Murfreesboro, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s design degrees to 5 students in 2021-2022.

Full Chowan University Design & Applied Arts Report

6
Salem crest
Salem College
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Salem College ranked #6 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina list. Salem College is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 6 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Salem College

7
Appalachian State crest
Appalachian State University
Boone, North Carolina

Appalachian State University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking. Appalachian State University is a public institution located in Boone, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 128 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Appalachian State University

8
ECSU crest
Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Elizabeth City State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking. Located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, this small public school handed out 10 degrees to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Elizabeth City State University

9
Queens crest
Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina

Queens University of Charlotte came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking. Queens University of Charlotte is located in Charlotte, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Queens

10
Pfeiffer University crest
Pfeiffer University
Misenheimer, North Carolina

Pfeiffer University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #10. This small school is located in Misenheimer, North Carolina, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Pfeiffer University

11
Methodist crest
Methodist University
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Methodist University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking. Methodist is located in Fayetteville, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 Methodist

12
Lenoir - Rhyne University crest
Lenoir - Rhyne University
Hickory, North Carolina

Lenoir - Rhyne University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking. Located in Hickory, North Carolina, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2021-2022.

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%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Lenoir - Rhyne University

13
Guilford crest
Guilford College
Greensboro, North Carolina

Guilford College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking. This small school is located in Greensboro, North Carolina, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Guilford College

14

University of North Carolina at Greensboro ranked #14 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina list. Greensboro, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s design degrees to 49 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at University of North Carolina at Greensboro

15
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University of Mount Olive
Mount Olive, North Carolina

University of Mount Olive landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking. UMO is a small school located in Mount Olive, North Carolina that handed out 11 bachelors’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at UMO

16
WCU crest
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, North Carolina

Western Carolina University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #16. This fairly large school is located in Cullowhee, North Carolina, and it awarded 19 bachelors’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at WCU

17
Mars Hill crest
Mars Hill University
Mars Hill, North Carolina

Mars Hill University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #17. Mars Hill University is located in Mars Hill, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 0 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Mars Hill

18
NC A&T crest
North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, North Carolina

North Carolina A & T State University ranked #18 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina list. NC A&T is located in Greensboro, North Carolina and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 30 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full NC A&T Design & Applied Arts Report

19
Gardner - Webb crest
Gardner - Webb University
Boiling Springs, North Carolina

Gardner - Webb University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #19. Gardner - Webb University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. It awarded 7 bachelors’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Gardner - Webb University

20
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina State University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking. Raleigh, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s design degrees to 65 students in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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%.

Full North Carolina State University Design & Applied Arts Report

21
Campbell crest
Campbell University
Buies Creek, North Carolina

Campbell University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking. Campbell is located in Buies Creek, North Carolina and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 Campbell University

22
ECU crest
East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina

East Carolina University ranked #22 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina list. East Carolina University is a large public school situated in Greenville, North Carolina. It awarded 30 bachelors’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

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 East Carolina University

23

University of North Carolina at Charlotte landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking. UNC Charlotte is a public institution located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 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 University of North Carolina at Charlotte

24
Piedmont International University crest
Piedmont International University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Piedmont International University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #24. Piedmont International University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 0 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Piedmont International University Design & Applied Arts Report

24
Barton College crest
Barton College
Wilson, North Carolina

Barton College ranked #24 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina list. Barton College is a small school located in Wilson, North Carolina that handed out 0 bachelors’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Barton College

24

Notes and References

References

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