2023 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Georgia
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
Finding the Best Design & Applied Arts School for You
In 2020-2021, 1,446 degrees and certificates were awarded to design and applied arts students who went to a Georgia college or university. This makes it the #14 most popular major in the state.
It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. 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.
The Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Georgia ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 13 schools in Georgia to see which ones offered the best value programs for design students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
Featured Design Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts
Translate your creative ideas through concept, design and digital media with a bachelor's in graphic design online from Southern New Hampshire University.
Top 10 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools
Our 2023 rankings named Gwinnett Technical College the best value school in Georgia for design and applied arts students. Located in the suburb of Lawrenceville, GTC is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
GTC undergraduate students pay an average of $3,236 in in-state tuition and fees each year. On average, design graduates from GTC take out $16,605 in student loans while working on their degree.
Request Information
The excellent programs at University of North Georgia helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best design and applied arts schools in Georgia. UNG is a large public school located in the town of Dahlonega.
In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UNG are $5,513 per year. Design majors at UNG take out an average of $26,750 in student loans while working on their egree.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UNG also is in the top 15% of our Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Georgia ranking.
Full Design & Applied Arts at University of North Georgia Report
Request Information
The excellent programs at Georgia Southern University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best design and applied arts schools in Georgia. Located in the town of Statesboro, GaSou is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at GaSou are $6,485 a year. After completing their degree, design graduates from GaSou carry an average student debtload of $25,693. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $231, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Request Information
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Georgia list. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Tech is a public school with a fairly large student population.
In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Georgia Tech are $12,852 per year. Design majors at Georgia Tech take out an average of $22,125 in student loans while working on their egree.
Georgia Tech also took the #1 spot in our Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Georgia rankings.
Request Information
Out of the 13 schools in Georgia that were part of this year’s ranking, Valdosta State University landed the # 5 spot on the list. VSU is a large public school located in the city of Valdosta.
In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at VSU are $6,583 per year.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Valdosta State University Report
Request Information
Miami Ad School at Portfolio Center ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Georgia list. Miami Ad School at Portfolio Center is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Atlanta.
Miami Ad School at Portfolio Center undergraduate students pay an average of $19,400 in in-state tuition and fees each year. On average, design graduates from Miami Ad School at Portfolio Center take out $25,250 in student loans while working on their degree.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Miami Ad School at Portfolio Center Report
Request Information
Columbus State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for design and applied arts students. It came in at #7 on the list. CSU is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Columbus.
The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at CSU are $6,241 a year.
Request Information
Brenau University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for design and applied arts students. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in the small city of Gainesville, Brenau is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Brenau undergraduate students pay an average of $32,530 in in-state tuition and fees each year.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Brenau University
Request Information
Savannah College of Art and Design did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for design and applied arts students. It came in at #9 on the list. SCAD is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Savannah.
In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SCAD are $38,840 per year. On average, design graduates from SCAD take out $27,000 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $981, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Request Information
The Art Institute of Atlanta did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for design and applied arts students. It came in at #10 on the list. Ai Atlanta is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Atlanta.
The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Ai Atlanta are $19,354 a year. While working on their degree, design majors at Ai Atlanta accumulate an average of around $42,822 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $381.
Full Design & Applied Arts at The Art Institute of Atlanta Report
Request InformationBest Value Design & Applied Arts Colleges in the Southeast Region
Explore all the Best Value Design & Applied Arts Colleges in the Southeast Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Virginia | 889 |
| North Carolina | 944 |
| Florida | 1,128 |
| Tennessee | 296 |
| Kentucky | 84 |
| South Carolina | 316 |
| Louisiana | 84 |
| Arkansas | 228 |
| Alabama | 246 |
| Mississippi | 81 |
| West Virginia | 114 |
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings in Georgia
Other Related Design Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts
Translate your creative ideas through concept, design and digital media with a bachelor's in graphic design online from Southern New Hampshire University.
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.
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.
Design & Applied Arts Related Majors for Design
One of 10 majors within the area of study, design and applied arts has other similar majors worth exploring.
Majors Similar to Design
| 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 13 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 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.