Best Art & Design Colleges in North Carolina (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 23 Art & Design programs in North Carolina by the median earnings of Art & Design graduates four years after completing, highest first. High Point University leads the list with median earnings of $61,635 four years after completing.
Across the 18 schools with a published figure, median earnings range from $61,635 to $18,154, and the median is $42,316. For 5 of the listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
The list includes 15 public and 8 private nonprofit institutions. Fayetteville State University posts the lowest average net price at $7,892.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reports the highest six-year completion rate, graduating 91% of its first-time full-time students within six years, and it also holds the best Azimuth composite rank, ranking 50th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Art & Design Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | High Point University · High Point, NC | $61,635 | $38,707 | $32,763 | 75.3% |
| High Point University reports $61,635 in median earnings of Art & Design graduates four years after completing, the highest figure on this list. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (62 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (8 graduates), Film/Video and Photographic Arts (7 graduates) | |||||
| 2 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC | $54,226 | $17,303 | $6,382 | 41.7% |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh ranks 2nd on this list, with a six-year completion rate of 85%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (65 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (28 graduates), Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management (25 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($61,382) | |||||
| 3 | Queens University of Charlotte · Charlotte, NC | $52,870 | $30,857 | $22,792 | 62.1% |
| A private nonprofit university in Charlotte, Queens University of Charlotte posts an average net price of $30,857. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (14 graduates), Music (6 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($52,870) | |||||
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC | $48,619 | $11,655 | $2,004 | 15.3% |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill admits 15% of applicants and reports median earnings of $48,619 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (40 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (32 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (22 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Music ($58,127), Fine and Studio Arts ($41,722) | |||||
| 5 | Appalachian State University · Boone, NC | No published median | $16,836 | $9,325 | 90.1% |
| Appalachian State University ranks 5th on this list and shows a six-year completion rate of 75%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (128 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (51 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (25 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($53,543), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft ($44,986), Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management ($44,297) | |||||
| 6 | East Carolina University · Greenville, NC | $46,079 | $15,739 | $10,046 | 89.2% |
| East Carolina University reports $46,079 in median earnings for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 89%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (77 graduates), Design and Applied Arts (30 graduates), Music (24 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($57,255), Fine and Studio Arts ($45,817) | |||||
| 7 | Western Carolina University · Cullowhee, NC | $44,299 | $13,315 | $8,816 | 81.8% |
| Western Carolina University posts an average net price of $13,315 and a six-year completion rate of 60%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (50 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (39 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (21 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($58,467), Music ($44,014), Fine and Studio Arts ($43,029) | |||||
| 8 | Wake Forest University · Winston-Salem, NC | $44,170 | $28,719 | $6,525 | 21.7% |
| Wake Forest University reports $44,170 in median earnings for its Art & Design graduates two years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (24 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (5 graduates) | |||||
| 9 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro · Greensboro, NC | $42,999 | $10,965 | $7,305 | 88.5% |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro ranks 9th on this list, with an average net price of $10,965. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (66 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (60 graduates), Design and Applied Arts (49 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($55,394), Dance ($45,084), Music ($40,778) | |||||
| 10 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC | $42,843 | $15,435 | $10,357 | 79.6% |
| Admitting 80% of applicants, University of North Carolina at Charlotte reports median earnings of $42,843 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (91 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (24 graduates), Music (21 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Dance ($48,518), Fine and Studio Arts ($41,383) | |||||
| 11 | University of North Carolina School of the Arts · Winston Salem, NC | $41,788 | $14,906 | $3,165 | 30.0% |
| University of North Carolina School of the Arts admits 30% of applicants and reports an average net price of $3,165 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (86 graduates), Film/Video and Photographic Arts (74 graduates), Dance (38 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft ($48,664), Film/Video and Photographic Arts ($41,000) | |||||
| 12 | William Peace University · Raleigh, NC | $40,817 | $21,649 | $15,779 | 94.3% |
| William Peace University ranks 12th on this list, with a six-year completion rate of 45%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (17 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (7 graduates) | |||||
| 13 | Catawba College · Salisbury, NC | $39,633 | $17,879 | $13,618 | 75.2% |
| Catawba College reports $39,633 in median earnings for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing, and its six-year completion rate is 47%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (12 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (5 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Music ($39,633) | |||||
| 14 | North Carolina A & T State University · Greensboro, NC | No published median | $10,846 | $8,223 | 49.9% |
| North Carolina A & T State University ranks 14th on this list and posts an average net price of $10,846, with a six-year completion rate of 57%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (30 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (17 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (10 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($46,077) | |||||
| 15 | University of North Carolina at Pembroke · Pembroke, NC | $36,793 | $10,260 | $7,919 | 93.3% |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke admits 93% of applicants and reports median earnings of $36,793 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (28 graduates), Music (10 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (5 graduates) | |||||
| 16 | University of North Carolina Wilmington · Wilmington, NC | $36,590 | $20,109 | $10,778 | 64.2% |
| Graduates of University of North Carolina Wilmington earn a median of $36,590 four years after completing their Art & Design studies, and the school's six-year completion rate is 71%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Film/Video and Photographic Arts (84 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (38 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (17 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Fine and Studio Arts ($42,192), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft ($35,956), Film/Video and Photographic Arts ($34,184) | |||||
| 17 | Meredith College · Raleigh, NC | $35,274 | $22,488 | $17,207 | 74.2% |
| Meredith College, a private nonprofit college in Raleigh, reports median earnings of $35,274 for its Art & Design graduates two years after completing and an average net price of $22,488. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (36 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (8 graduates), Dance (7 graduates) | |||||
| 18 | North Carolina Central University · Durham, NC | No published median | $15,359 | $13,032 | 87.0% |
| North Carolina Central University ranks 18th on this list and holds an Azimuth composite rank of 332nd among nonprofit four-year institutions, alongside a six-year completion rate of 42%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (12 graduates), Music (10 graduates), Visual and Performing Arts, General (7 graduates) | |||||
| 19 | University of North Carolina Asheville · Asheville, NC | No published median | $12,250 | $8,219 | 91.9% |
| University of North Carolina Asheville admits 92% of applicants and carries an average net price of $12,250. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Visual and Performing Arts, General (47 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (47 graduates), Music (23 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Visual and Performing Arts, General ($40,444) | |||||
| 20 | Campbell University · Buies Creek, NC | $29,685 | $24,516 | $20,751 | 87.2% |
| Campbell University reports median earnings of $29,685 for its Art & Design graduates two years after completing, and its six-year completion rate stands at 61%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (8 graduates), Music (7 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (6 graduates) | |||||
| 21 | Elon University · Elon, NC | $26,057 | $41,555 | $26,523 | 66.4% |
| Elon University posts a six-year completion rate of 84% and an average net price of $41,555, while its Art & Design graduates earn a median of $26,057 two years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (39 graduates), Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management (32 graduates), Music (19 graduates) | |||||
| 22 | Winston-Salem State University · Winston-Salem, NC | $18,154 | $13,479 | $11,463 | 78.3% |
| Winston-Salem State University ranks 22nd on this list and reports median earnings of $18,154 for its Art & Design graduates two years after completing, with an admission rate of 78%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (10 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (9 graduates) | |||||
| 23 | Fayetteville State University · Fayetteville, NC | No published median | $7,892 | $6,233 | 82.2% |
| Fayetteville State University holds the lowest average net price on the page at $7,892 and ranks 275th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (16 graduates) | |||||
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Art & Design graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only schools with a reported Art & Design earnings cohort in North Carolina appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 5 of the 23 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 18 schools with a published figure. High Point University leads at $61,635, a gap of $7,409 ahead of second-place North Carolina State University at Raleigh.
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- Best Colleges in North Carolina
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