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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in North Carolina

51 Ranked Colleges
$27,600 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina” ranking, we looked at 51 colleges that offer a degree in design & applied arts. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in design & applied arts.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina” list to help you make the college 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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina

The colleges and universities below are the best for north carolina design students.

Top 25 Most Focused 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 Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina. This small school is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it awarded 17 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 full report on 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 Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina. Meredith is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Raleigh, North Carolina. It awarded 36 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Meredith College Design & Applied Arts Report

3
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St. Andrews University
Laurinburg, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend St. Andrews University. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina. Located in Laurinburg, North Carolina, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2021-2022.

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 Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina. High Point is a medium-sized school located in High Point, North Carolina that handed out 62 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 High Point

5
Chowan University crest
Chowan University
Murfreesboro, North Carolina

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Chowan University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina list. Chowan University is a small school located in Murfreesboro, North Carolina that handed out 5 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Chowan University Design & Applied Arts Report

6
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Salem College
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Salem College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking. Salem is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It awarded 6 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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 Salem College Design & Applied Arts Report

7
Appalachian State crest
Appalachian State University
Boone, North Carolina

Appalachian State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #7. Appalachian State University is located in Boone, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 128 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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

8
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Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City, North Carolina

With a ranking of #8, Elizabeth City State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina list. Located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, this small public school handed out 10 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2021-2022.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Elizabeth City State University

9
Queens crest
Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina

Queens University of Charlotte did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #9. Queens is a small school located in Charlotte, North Carolina that handed out 14 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 Queens

10
Randolph Community College crest
Randolph Community College
Asheboro, North Carolina

Randolph Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina list. Randolph Community College is a public institution located in Asheboro, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 60 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Randolph Community College

11
Pfeiffer University crest
Pfeiffer University
Misenheimer, North Carolina

Pfeiffer University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking. Pfeiffer University is a small school located in Misenheimer, North Carolina that handed out 6 ’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 full report on Design & Applied Arts at Pfeiffer University

12
Methodist crest
Methodist University
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Methodist University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking. Fayetteville, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 4 students in 2021-2022.

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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Methodist

13
Central Piedmont Community College crest
Central Piedmont Community College
Charlotte, North Carolina

Central Piedmont Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking. Central Piedmont Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Charlotte, North Carolina. It awarded 180 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Central Piedmont Community College

14
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Western Piedmont Community College
Morganton, North Carolina

Western Piedmont Community College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking. WPCC is located in Morganton, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 8 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

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 WPCC

15
Wake Technical Community College crest
Wake Technical Community College
Raleigh, North Carolina

Wake Technical Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina list. Wake Technical Community College is a large public school situated in Raleigh, North Carolina. It awarded 493 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Wake Technical Community College

16
Lenoir - Rhyne University crest
Lenoir - Rhyne University
Hickory, North Carolina

Lenoir - Rhyne University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking. Lenoir - Rhyne University is a small school located in Hickory, North Carolina that handed out 1 ’s design degrees 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

17
CVCC crest
Catawba Valley Community College
Hickory, North Carolina

Catawba Valley Community College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking. CVCC is a small school located in Hickory, North Carolina that handed out 7 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

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%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at CVCC

18
Guilford Technical Community College crest
Guilford Technical Community College
Jamestown, North Carolina

Guilford Technical Community College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking. Jamestown, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 41 students in 2021-2022.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Guilford Technical Community College

19
FTCC crest
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Fayetteville Technical Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina list. Fayetteville, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 140 students in 2021-2022.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at FTCC

20
Guilford crest
Guilford College
Greensboro, North Carolina

With a ranking of #20, Guilford College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina list. Located in Greensboro, North Carolina, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 4 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Guilford

21
South Piedmont Community College crest
South Piedmont Community College
Polkton, North Carolina

With a ranking of #21, South Piedmont Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina list. Polkton, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 0 students in 2021-2022.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at South Piedmont Community College

22
Pitt Community College crest
Pitt Community College
Winterville, North Carolina

Pitt Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #22. Pitt Community College is a medium-sized school located in Winterville, North Carolina that handed out 20 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Pitt Community College

23
Lenoir Community College crest
Lenoir Community College
Kinston, North Carolina

Lenoir Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #23. Lenoir Community College is a small school located in Kinston, North Carolina that handed out 35 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

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.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Lenoir Community College

24
Wayne Community College crest
Wayne Community College
Goldsboro, North Carolina

With a ranking of #24, Wayne Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina list. Wayne Community College is a small school located in Goldsboro, North Carolina that handed out 44 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Wayne Community College Design & Applied Arts Report

25

University of North Carolina at Greensboro came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in North Carolina ranking. UNC Greensboro is a fairly large school located in Greensboro, North Carolina that handed out 49 ’s design degrees 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 UNC Greensboro

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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