Best colleges for Design and Applied Arts in North Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
North Carolina State University at Raleigh, East Carolina University and University of North Carolina at Greensboro are the top bachelor's Design and Applied Arts programs in North Carolina by graduate earnings. North Carolina State University at Raleigh leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,930, College Scorecard. Appalachian State University, North Carolina State University at Raleigh and Alamance Community College award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in North Carolina: 102, 86 and 75 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 43 North Carolina colleges offer Design and Applied Arts and award 2,281 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Design and Applied Arts program focuses on the intersection of design and practical application, teaching students how to create aesthetically pleasing objects for everyday use. This program is ideal for individuals interested in…
Top 9 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,930 | 86 | 85% | — | $20,500 |
| 2 | East Carolina University Greenville Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,992 | 24 | 63% | — | $25,000 |
| 3 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,858 | 31 | 56% | — | $26,000 |
| 4 | Meredith College Raleigh Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,357 | 35 | 70% | $19,552 | $25,000 |
| 5 | Appalachian State University Boone Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,722 | 102 | 75% | — | $21,500 |
| 6 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,842 | 31 | 60% | — | $29,911 |
| 7 | William Peace University Raleigh Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,536 | 13 | 45% | $23,108 | $24,978 |
| 8 | Queens University of Charlotte Charlotte Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $31,611 | 8 | 61% | $24,872 | $27,000 |
| 9 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $30,470 | 2 | 57% | — | $29,958 |
Top 4 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wake Technical Community College Raleigh Public · Certificate | $32,153 | 719 | 33% | — | $13,414 |
| 2 | Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte Public · Associate degree | $30,979 | 472 | 31% | — | — |
| 3 | Forsyth Technical Community College Winston-Salem Public · Associate degree | $29,715 | 22 | 34% | — | — |
| 4 | Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown Public · Associate degree | $24,827 | 59 | 31% | — | $11,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in North Carolina
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Appalachian State University Boone Public | 102 | $34,722 |
| 2 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public | 86 | $44,930 |
| 3 | Alamance Community College Graham Public | 75 | Not reported |
| 4 | High Point University High Point Private not-for-profit | 56 | Not reported |
| 5 | Wayne Community College Goldsboro Public | 56 | Not reported |
| 6 | Cape Fear Community College Wilmington Public | 52 | Not reported |
| 7 | Wilkes Community College Wilkesboro Public | 43 | Not reported |
| 8 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public | 40 | Not reported |
| 9 | Meredith College Raleigh Private not-for-profit | 35 | $36,357 |
| 10 | Randolph Community College Asheboro Public | 33 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 33 North Carolina colleges offering Design and Applied Arts
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024).
Top skills
What Graphic Designers earn in North Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Design and Applied Arts programs in North Carolina.
Which North Carolina colleges award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees?+
Appalachian State University (102 graduates a year), North Carolina State University at Raleigh (86 graduates a year) and Alamance Community College (75 graduates a year) award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in North Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 43 North Carolina colleges offer Design and Applied Arts.
What is the best college for Design and Applied Arts in North Carolina?+
By graduate earnings, North Carolina State University at Raleigh leads among bachelor's Design and Applied Arts programs in North Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,930, College Scorecard. East Carolina University and University of North Carolina at Greensboro follow. By degrees awarded, Appalachian State University is the largest, with 102 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Design and Applied Arts program in North Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, North Carolina State University at Raleigh tops the list at $44,930. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Graphic Designers earn in North Carolina?+
The average annual wage for Graphic Designers in North Carolina is $63,250 (median $58,450), across about 5,660 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Design and Applied Arts program?+
The Design and Applied Arts program focuses on the intersection of design and practical application, teaching students how to create aesthetically pleasing objects for everyday use. This program is ideal for individuals interested in…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, speaking, critical thinking, writing, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Graphic Designers?+
The national job outlook is about +2.1% growth with around 20,000 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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