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Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Tennessee

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2023 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Tennessee

11 Colleges
$29,525 Avg Salary
$29,136 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Design & Applied Arts School for You

Design & Applied Arts is the #53 most popular major in Tennessee with 296 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Tennessee ranking. This report analyzed 11 schools in Tennessee to see which ones offered the best programs for students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Tennessee

Check out the design programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.

Top 10 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools

Our 2023 rankings named The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga the best school in Tennessee for design and applied arts students. Located in the midsize city of Chattanooga, UT Chattanooga is a public school with a large student population.

After completing their degree, design graduates from UT Chattanooga carry an average student debtload of $27,000.

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#2

Belmont University

Nashville, TN

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Belmont University is a great place for design and applied arts students. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont is a private not-for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population.

On average, design graduates from Belmont take out $26,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

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Out of the 11 schools in Tennessee that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Tennessee - Knoxville landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Knoxville, UT Knoxville is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at The University of Tennessee - Knoxville

#4

Freed-Hardeman University

Henderson, TN

The excellent programs at Freed-Hardeman University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best design and applied arts schools in Tennessee. Located in the distant town of Henderson, FHU is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Freed-Hardeman University

#5

Lipscomb University

Nashville, TN

The excellent programs at Lipscomb University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best design and applied arts schools in Tennessee. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Full Design & Applied Arts at Lipscomb University Report

With a ranking of #6, Middle Tennessee State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for design and applied arts students. Located in the medium-sized city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a public school with a very large student population.

Full Design & Applied Arts at Middle Tennessee State University Report

#7

Nossi College of Art

Madison, TN

Nossi College of Art did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for design and applied arts students. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the city of Madison, Nossi College of Art is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that design majors at Nossi College of Art take out is $44,250.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Nossi College of Art

#8

University of Memphis

Memphis, TN

University of Memphis ranked #8 on this year’s Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Tennessee list. UofM is a very large public school located in the large city of Memphis.

Full Design & Applied Arts at University of Memphis Report

Chattanooga State Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for design and applied arts students. It came in at #9 on the list. Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the medium-sized city of Chattanooga.

After completing their degree, design graduates from Chattanooga State Community College carry an average student debtload of $14,286.

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#10

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, TN

East Tennessee State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Tennessee ranking. ETSU is a fairly large public school located in the city of Johnson City.

The average amount in student loans that design majors at ETSU take out is $16,727.

Full Design & Applied Arts at East Tennessee State University Report

Best Design & Applied Arts Colleges in the Southeast Region

Explore all the Best Design & Applied Arts Colleges in the Southeast Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Georgia 1,446
Virginia 889
North Carolina 944
Florida 1,128
Kentucky 84
South Carolina 316
Louisiana 84
Arkansas 228
Alabama 246
Mississippi 81
West Virginia 114

Design & Applied Arts is one of 10 different types of programs to choose from.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Fine & Studio Arts 37,413
Music 25,910
Drama & Theater Arts 17,341
Film, Video & Photographic Arts 16,778
General Visual & Performing Arts 6,355

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 11 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • 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 the rest 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.

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