Best colleges for Design and Applied Arts in Tennessee
Ranked by graduate earnings
East Tennessee State University, Belmont University and Nossi College of Art and Design are the top bachelor's Design and Applied Arts programs in Tennessee by graduate earnings. East Tennessee State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $34,177, College Scorecard. Belmont University, Nossi College of Art and Design and East Tennessee State University award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Tennessee: 64, 54 and 34 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 23 Tennessee colleges offer Design and Applied Arts and award 425 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 5 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 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,177 | 34 | 53% | — | $19,250 |
| 2 | Belmont University Nashville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $28,702 | 64 | 71% | $29,246 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Nossi College of Art and Design Nashville Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $24,497 | 54 | 42% | $24,474 | $46,500 |
| 4 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $38,807 | 13 | 54% | — | — |
| 5 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $36,061 | 15 | 74% | — | — |
Top 2 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 | Nashville State Community College Nashville Public · Associate degree Small program | $27,412 | 9 | 18% | — | — |
| 2 | Chattanooga State Community College Chattanooga Public · Associate degree | $20,165 | 43 | 26% | — | $11,681 |
Colleges awarding the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Tennessee
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 | Belmont University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 64 | $28,702 |
| 2 | Nossi College of Art and Design Nashville Private for-profit | 54 | $24,497 |
| 3 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public | 34 | $34,177 |
| 4 | Pellissippi State Community College Knoxville Public | 30 | Not reported |
| 5 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville Public | 28 | Not reported |
| 6 | Lipscomb University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 19 | Not reported |
| 7 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public | 15 | $36,061 |
| 8 | Freed-Hardeman University Henderson Private not-for-profit | 14 | Not reported |
| 9 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Memphis Memphis Public | 13 | Not reported |
| 10 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public | 13 | $38,807 |
ShowHide the other 13 Tennessee colleges offering Design and Applied Arts
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga State Community College | Chattanooga | Public | 43 |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College | Memphis | Public | 17 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Murfreesboro | Murfreesboro | Public | 11 |
| Southern Adventist University | Collegedale | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Maryville College | Maryville | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Carson-Newman University | Jefferson City | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Dickson | Dickson | Public | 9 |
| Nashville State Community College | Nashville | Public | 9 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology Crump | Crump | Public | 8 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Hohenwald | Hohenwald | Public | 5 |
| Milligan University | Milligan | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| University of Memphis | Memphis | Public | 3 |
| Remington College - Memphis Campus | Memphis | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024).
Top skills
What Graphic Designers earn in Tennessee
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Design and Applied Arts programs in Tennessee.
Which Tennessee colleges award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees?+
Belmont University (64 graduates a year), Nossi College of Art and Design (54 graduates a year) and East Tennessee State University (34 graduates a year) award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 23 Tennessee colleges offer Design and Applied Arts.
What is the best college for Design and Applied Arts in Tennessee?+
By graduate earnings, East Tennessee State University leads among bachelor's Design and Applied Arts programs in Tennessee, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $34,177, College Scorecard. Belmont University and Nossi College of Art and Design follow. By degrees awarded, Belmont University is the largest, with 64 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Design and Applied Arts program in Tennessee has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, East Tennessee State University tops the list at $34,177. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Graphic Designers earn in Tennessee?+
The average annual wage for Graphic Designers in Tennessee is $62,670 (median $57,270), across about 3,880 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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card