2027 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in Ohio

[Graphic Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/graphic-design/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value graphic design schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in Ohio
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the graphic design degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Graphic Design Schools
Cuyahoga Community College District earned the #1 spot for value among graphic design schools in Ohio. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,249, while out-of-state students pay about $7,249. Graphic Design graduates carry a median of $11,795 in student loans. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from Cuyahoga Community College District generally make around $22,517. That is a strong return on a $11,795 median debt.
Lorain County Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in graphic design, landing the #2 spot this year. Lorain County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Elyria. In-state tuition and fees average $4,265, while out-of-state students pay about $8,860. Graphic Design graduates carry a median of $17,611 in student loans. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from Lorain County Community College generally make around $40,095. That is a strong return on a $17,611 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Cincinnati State Technical And Community College one of the best values for graphic design. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,517, while out-of-state students pay about $10,044. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $17,730. Graphic Design graduates of Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earn a median of $47,975 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Stark State College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value graphic design schools. Stark State College is a large public school located in the suburb of North Canton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,790, with out-of-state students paying around $7,886. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $17,349. Graphic Design graduates of Stark State College earn a median of $42,724 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,349 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Lakeland Community College one of the best values for graphic design. Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirtland. Students from in state pay about $3,872 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,235. Graphic Design graduates carry a median of $19,857 in student loans. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from Lakeland Community College generally make around $51,941. Set against $19,857 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Owens Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value graphic design schools. Set in the suburb of Perrysburg, Owens Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,870, with out-of-state students paying around $10,502. Students borrow a median of $19,383 to complete the graphic design program here. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from Owens Community College generally make around $45,785. That is a strong return on a $19,383 median debt.
University Of Akron Main Campus landed the #7 spot for graphic design value this year. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,135, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Graphic Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $39,856. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Toledo placed #8 among the best values for graphic design. University Of Toledo is a large public school located in the city of Toledo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,157, with out-of-state students paying around $21,517. Graphic Design graduates carry a median of $24,923 in student loans. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from University Of Toledo generally make around $52,675. That is a strong return on a $24,923 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Cleveland State University landed the #9 spot for graphic design value this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,982, while out-of-state students pay about $18,502. Students borrow a median of $26,875 to complete the graphic design program here. Graphic Design graduates of Cleveland State University earn a median of $24,959 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,875 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #10 spot for graphic design value this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Students borrow a median of $26,791 to complete the graphic design program here. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $24,716. That is a strong return on a $26,791 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus placed #11 among the best values for graphic design. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,912, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $27,000. Early-career graphic design graduates make about $35,645. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Cedarville University landed the #12 spot for graphic design value this year. Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Cedarville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,150. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $25,000. Graphic Design graduates of Cedarville University earn a median of $35,768 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Miami University Oxford landed the #13 spot for graphic design value this year. Miami University Oxford is a very large public school located in the town of Oxford. In-state tuition and fees average $17,519, with out-of-state students paying around $38,965. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the graphic design program here. Early-career graphic design graduates make about $47,295. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Baldwin Wallace College landed the #14 spot for graphic design value this year. Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Berea. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,832. Students borrow a median of $27,307 to complete the graphic design program here. Graphic Design graduates of Baldwin Wallace College earn a median of $31,749 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,307 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Cleveland Institute Of Art earned the #15 position for value in graphic design this year. Cleveland Institute Of Art is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,700. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the graphic design program here. Early-career graphic design graduates make about $23,358. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cleveland Institute Of Art admits about 61% of applicants.
Xavier University earned the #16 position for value in graphic design this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,425. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $26,614. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from Xavier University generally make around $55,045. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Art Academy Of Cincinnati ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value graphic design schools. Art Academy Of Cincinnati is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cincinnati. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,007. Graphic Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from Art Academy Of Cincinnati generally make around $20,921. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Art Academy Of Cincinnati admits about 34% of applicants.
School Of Advertising Art Inc came in at #18 for value in graphic design this year. Located in the city of Kettering, School Of Advertising Art Inc is a small private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $30,914 in tuition and fees. Graphic Design graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Median earnings reach $42,187 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt. School Of Advertising Art Inc admits about 92% of applicants.
More Graphic Design Rankings
View All Graphic Design Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.