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# Best Design and Applied Arts Programs in Texas (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Part of [Best Art & Design Colleges in Texas](/rankings/best-art-and-design-colleges-in-texas/)

This page ranks the 16 Design and Applied Arts programs in Texas by the median earnings of Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing, highest first. [The University of Texas at Austin](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-austin/majors/) leads the list with median earnings of $69,846 four years after completing, followed by [Texas Christian University](/school/texas-christian-university/majors/) at $68,313 and [University of Houston](/school/university-of-houston/majors/) at $64,612.

Across the listed schools, the median figure is $55,658, with a spread of $51,531 from $69,846 to $18,315. For 4 of the 16 programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

The list includes 10 public and 6 private nonprofit institutions. The University of Texas at Austin ranks 9th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, the strongest showing on the page.

Lamar University posts the lowest average net price at $9,366, while West Texas A & M University reports the highest admission rate, admitting 99% of applicants.

## The ranked list

16 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, TX | $69,846 | $19,857 | $12,553 | 26.6% |
|  | [The University of Texas at Austin](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-austin/majors/) reports [$69,846 in median earnings](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-austin/outcomes/) for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing, and ranks 9th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 2 | Texas Christian University · Fort Worth, TX | $68,313 | $36,660 | $17,956 | 44.5% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Fort Worth, [Texas Christian University](/school/texas-christian-university/majors/) shows an [admission rate of 44%](/school/texas-christian-university/admissions/) and median earnings of $68,313 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 3 | University of Houston · Houston, TX | $64,612 | $14,276 | $10,929 | 73.9% |
|  | [University of Houston](/school/university-of-houston/majors/) posts [median earnings of $64,612](/school/university-of-houston/outcomes/) for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $14,276. |
| 4 | Baylor University · Waco, TX | $63,522 | $41,104 | $22,024 | 51.3% |
|  | [Baylor University](/school/baylor-university/majors/) carries a [median federal debt of $25,750](/school/baylor-university/cost/) among Design and Applied Arts completers who borrowed, and its graduates four years after completing earn a median of $63,522. |
| 5 | East Texas A&M University · Commerce, TX | $61,748 | $11,841 | $9,709 | 92.2% |
|  | [East Texas A&M University](/school/east-texas-am-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $61,748](/school/east-texas-am-university/outcomes/) for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $9,709 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 6 | Texas State University · San Marcos, TX | $61,539 | $16,805 | $12,715 | 89.3% |
|  | With 103 graduates in the earnings cohort, [Texas State University](/school/texas-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $61,539](/school/texas-state-university/outcomes/) for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 7 | University of North Texas · Denton, TX | $57,753 | $15,649 | $12,311 | 72.2% |
|  | [University of North Texas](/school/university-of-north-texas/majors/) [admits 72% of applicants](/school/university-of-north-texas/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $57,753 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 8 | Sam Houston State University · Huntsville, TX | $57,019 | $16,404 | $12,474 | 90.3% |
|  | [Sam Houston State University](/school/sam-houston-state-university/majors/) shows a [median federal debt of $29,000](/school/sam-houston-state-university/cost/) among Design and Applied Arts completers who borrowed, and its graduates four years after completing earn a median of $57,019. |
| 9 | Saint Edward's University · Austin, TX | $54,297 | $25,578 | $20,799 | 81.4% |
|  | [Saint Edward's University](/school/saint-edwards-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $54,297](/school/saint-edwards-university/outcomes/) for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $20,799 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 10 | Abilene Christian University · Abilene, TX | $49,818 | $26,182 | $20,285 | 66.0% |
|  | [Abilene Christian University](/school/abilene-christian-university/majors/) [ranks 1153rd on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/abilene-christian-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing earn a median of $49,818. |
| 11 | University of the Incarnate Word · San Antonio, TX | $48,472 | $22,775 | $19,260 | 98.1% |
|  | [University of the Incarnate Word](/school/university-of-the-incarnate-word/majors/) carries an [admission rate of 98%](/school/university-of-the-incarnate-word/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $48,472 for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 12 | Lamar University · Beaumont, TX | $46,341 | $9,366 | $7,568 | 86.4% |
|  | [Lamar University](/school/lamar-university/majors/) posts the lowest average net price on the list at $9,366, and its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing earn a [median of $46,341](/school/lamar-university/outcomes/). |
| 13 | Southern Methodist University · Dallas, TX | $42,728 | $40,892 | $23,544 | 63.4% |
|  | [Southern Methodist University](/school/southern-methodist-university/majors/), a private nonprofit university in Dallas, reports [median earnings of $42,728](/school/southern-methodist-university/outcomes/) for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing, with 12 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 14 | Texas Tech University · Lubbock, TX | $36,134 | $19,070 | $12,457 | 72.7% |
|  | [Texas Tech University](/school/texas-tech-university/majors/) [admits 73% of applicants](/school/texas-tech-university/admissions/) and posts an average net price of $19,070, while its Design and Applied Arts graduates earn a median of $36,134 four years after completing. |
| 15 | Texas Woman's University · Denton, TX | $33,459 | $11,963 | $9,948 | 96.1% |
|  | With an [average net price of $9,948](/school/texas-womans-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000, [Texas Woman's University](/school/texas-womans-university/majors/) ranks 118th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 16 | West Texas A & M University · Canyon, TX | $18,315 | $19,487 | $16,525 | 98.7% |
|  | [West Texas A & M University](/school/west-texas-a-m-university/majors/) ranks 16th on this list and reports [median earnings of $18,315](/school/west-texas-a-m-university/outcomes/) for its Design and Applied Arts graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 99%. |

## 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 Texas appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 4 of the 16 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 gap between The University of Texas at Austin and Texas Christian University is $1,533, while the spread from the top of the list to the bottom reaches $51,531.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Art & Design Colleges in Texas](/rankings/best-art-and-design-colleges-in-texas/)