Ranking

Best Design and Applied Arts Colleges in North Carolina 2026

31 North Carolina colleges offering Design and Applied Arts, ranked by EduGradify value grade.

Schools ranked: 25
Cheapest net price: $3,345
Top earnings 10y: $68,758
Public / Private: 18 / 7

Central Piedmont Community College

A+

Charlotte, NC · Public

ROI score: 28.30
Net price: $3,345
Earnings 10y: $37,865
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Sandhills Community College

A+

Pinehurst, NC · Public

ROI score: 19.04
Net price: $4,157
Earnings 10y: $31,656
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Southwestern Community College

A+

Sylva, NC · Public

ROI score: 16.39
Net price: $5,207
Earnings 10y: $34,145
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City, NC · Public

ROI score: 15.72
Net price: $6,364
Earnings 10y: $40,026
Acceptance: 64.2%

Western Piedmont Community College

Morganton, NC · Public

ROI score: 13.26
Net price: $6,448
Earnings 10y: $34,195
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Mitchell Community College

Statesville, NC · Public

ROI score: 12.84
Net price: $6,481
Earnings 10y: $33,298
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Forsyth Technical Community College

Winston-Salem, NC · Public

ROI score: 11.85
Net price: $7,200
Earnings 10y: $34,139
Acceptance: Open / not reported

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, NC · Public

ROI score: 10.98
Net price: $10,965
Earnings 10y: $48,160
Acceptance: 88.5%

McDowell Technical Community College

Marion, NC · Public

ROI score: 10.61
Net price: $7,784
Earnings 10y: $33,035
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#10

North Carolina A & T State University

Greensboro, NC · Public

ROI score: 10.24
Net price: $10,846
Earnings 10y: $44,440
Acceptance: 49.9%

#11

Cape Fear Community College

Wilmington, NC · Public

ROI score: 10.06
Net price: $9,610
Earnings 10y: $38,654
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#12

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh, NC · Public

ROI score: 9.93
Net price: $17,303
Earnings 10y: $68,758
Acceptance: 41.7%

#13

Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC · Public

ROI score: 9.29
Net price: $13,315
Earnings 10y: $49,458
Acceptance: 81.8%

#14

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte, NC · Public

ROI score: 9.28
Net price: $15,435
Earnings 10y: $57,289
Acceptance: 79.6%

#15

Catawba Valley Community College

Hickory, NC · Public

ROI score: 8.78
Net price: $10,528
Earnings 10y: $36,977
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#16

East Carolina University

Greenville, NC · Public

ROI score: 8.76
Net price: $15,739
Earnings 10y: $55,146
Acceptance: 89.2%

#17

Appalachian State University

Boone, NC · Public

ROI score: 7.70
Net price: $16,836
Earnings 10y: $51,836
Acceptance: 90.1%

#18

Chowan University

Murfreesboro, NC · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.82
Net price: $14,086
Earnings 10y: $38,412
Acceptance: 68.8%

#19

Gardner-Webb University

Boiling Springs, NC · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.80
Net price: $17,674
Earnings 10y: $48,039
Acceptance: 77.2%

#20

Pfeiffer University

Misenheimer, NC · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.76
Net price: $19,076
Earnings 10y: $51,562
Acceptance: 96%

#21

University of Mount Olive

Mount Olive, NC · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.25
Net price: $18,853
Earnings 10y: $47,139
Acceptance: 75.8%

#22

Salem College

Winston-Salem, NC · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.11
Net price: $18,277
Earnings 10y: $44,640
Acceptance: 76.7%

#23

Meredith College

Raleigh, NC · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.73
Net price: $22,488
Earnings 10y: $51,539
Acceptance: 74.2%

#24

Guilford Technical Community College

Jamestown, NC · Public

ROI score: 5.65
Net price: $15,002
Earnings 10y: $33,934
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#25

Campbell University

Buies Creek, NC · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.60
Net price: $24,516
Earnings 10y: $54,886
Acceptance: 87.2%

How we picked this list

This list starts with North Carolina schools with positive Design and Applied Arts program-share evidence, then sorts by EduGradify's school-wide ROI proxy: ten-year median earnings weighed against average net price. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 10.51 (18 public, 7 private).

Every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. See our full methodology for the formulas.

FAQ

Who leads this ranking?

Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, NC tops this ranking. EduGradify value grade is A+.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by roi score using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.

How many North Carolina colleges are in this list?

31 North Carolina colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.

What does net price mean here?

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.