Best Design and Applied Arts Programs in Florida (2026)
Updated
Part of Best Art & Design Colleges in Florida
This page ranks the six Design and Applied Arts programs in Florida by the median earnings of Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing, highest first. Florida State University leads the list, reporting median earnings of $73,888 for its graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed programs, the figures range from a high of $73,888 to a low of $35,817, with a median of $51,354.
Four of the six programs are at public institutions, and two are at private nonprofits. University of Florida posts the lowest average net price on the list, at $6,541, and also holds the strongest Azimuth composite rank: it ranks 29th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. Flagler College has the highest admission rate, admitting 81% of applicants.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida State University · Tallahassee, FL | $73,888 | $11,297 | $5,938 | 24.2% |
| Florida State University reports $73,888 in median earnings of Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing, the highest figure on this list, alongside an admission rate of 24%. | |||||
| 2 | University of Florida · Gainesville, FL | $65,656 | $6,541 | $1,982 | 24.2% |
| University of Florida ranks 29th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and posts median earnings of $65,656 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 3 | University of South Florida · Tampa, FL | $54,770 | $9,812 | $4,122 | 43.2% |
| Graduates of University of South Florida's Design and Applied Arts program left with a median of $17,000 in federal loans among Design and Applied Arts completers who borrowed and earned $54,770 four years after completing. | |||||
| 4 | Ringling College of Art and Design · Sarasota, FL | $47,937 | $57,742 | $47,261 | 69.7% |
| A private nonprofit institution in Sarasota, Ringling College of Art and Design admits 70% of applicants and shows median earnings of $47,937 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 5 | Flagler College · Saint Augustine, FL | $46,921 | $30,525 | $21,733 | 80.8% |
| Flagler College posts an admission rate of 81% and a median of $26,250 in federal debt among Design and Applied Arts completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 6 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University · Tallahassee, FL | $35,817 | $13,739 | $13,299 | 20.6% |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University ranks 6th on this list, with median earnings of $35,817 four years after completing and an admission rate of 21%. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in Florida appear. The figure is the median earnings of federally aided completers of this program who were working and not enrolled four years after completing. The list does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. Florida State University leads at $73,888, and the gap to second-ranked University of Florida is $8,232. Across the 6 listed programs the spread from top to bottom is $38,071.
Related rankings
- Best Art & Design Colleges in Florida
- Art & Design Colleges in Florida for Social Mobility