2027 Best Value Interior Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Interior Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/interior-design/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 34 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value interior design schools.
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2027 Best Value Interior Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the interior design degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Interior Design Schools
Joliet Junior College tops our 2027 list of the best value interior design schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,530, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Students borrow a median of $11,995 to complete the interior design program here. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $40,118. That is a strong return on a $11,995 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes College Of Dupage one of the best values for interior design. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Students borrow a median of $11,077 to complete the interior design program here. Early-career interior design graduates make about $31,798. That is a strong return on a $11,077 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in interior design will find it at Sinclair Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,675, compared with $8,556 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $11,000. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $24,490. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuyahoga Community College District is a great value for students pursuing a degree in interior design, landing the #4 spot this year. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,249, compared with $7,249 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,795 to complete the interior design program here. Interior Design graduates of Cuyahoga Community College District earn a median of $22,517 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,795 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Ferris State University one of the best values for interior design. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,778 in tuition and fees. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $34,045. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Ivy Tech Community College placed #6 among the best values for interior design. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $12,710. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $26,602. Set against $12,710 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western Technical College La Cross came in at #7 for value in interior design this year. Set in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College La Cross is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,820, with out-of-state students paying around $7,078. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $12,057. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Western Technical College La Cross generally make around $23,032. That is a strong return on a $12,057 median debt.
Milwaukee Area Technical College came in at #8 for value in interior design this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,184, with out-of-state students paying around $7,427. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $18,296. Interior Design graduates of Milwaukee Area Technical College earn a median of $27,795 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Waukesha County Technical College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value interior design schools. Located in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,803, compared with $7,046 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $15,554. Interior Design graduates of Waukesha County Technical College earn a median of $39,095 early in their careers. Set against $15,554 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fox Valley Technical College landed the #10 spot for interior design value this year. Fox Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $7,283. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $16,582. Early-career interior design graduates make about $32,673. Set against $16,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Henry Ford Community College earned the #11 position for value in interior design this year. Set in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,568, with out-of-state students paying around $7,816. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $19,075 in student loans. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Henry Ford Community College generally make around $19,911. Set against $19,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Harper College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value interior design schools. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,894, compared with $11,874 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $10,963. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $44,523. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gateway Technical College earned the #13 position for value in interior design this year. Located in the city of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,956, with out-of-state students paying around $7,199. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $15,500. Early-career interior design graduates make about $29,734. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Madison Area Technical College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value interior design schools. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. In-state tuition and fees average $4,977, with out-of-state students paying around $7,141. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete the interior design program here. Interior Design graduates of Madison Area Technical College earn a median of $30,710 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,750 median debt.
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #15 position for value in interior design this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Interior Design graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $44,602 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 50%.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earned the #16 position for value in interior design this year. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Stevens Point. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,228, compared with $18,248 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,684 to complete the interior design program here. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $41,243. Set against $23,684 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne came in at #17 for value in interior design this year. Located in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,532, with out-of-state students paying around $22,887. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career interior design graduates make about $27,517. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Ball State University landed the #18 spot for interior design value this year. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,082, with out-of-state students paying around $29,630. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete the interior design program here. Early-career interior design graduates make about $36,864. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Western Michigan University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value interior design schools. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,987 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $39,077. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #20 spot for interior design value this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $25,100 in student loans. Interior Design graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $45,176 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,100 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #21 for value in interior design this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $20,875. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $49,780. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Eastern Michigan University came in at #22 for value in interior design this year. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,990. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $28,781. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $38,443. Set against $28,781 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Michigan University admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Stout came in at #23 for value in interior design this year. Located in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,701, with out-of-state students paying around $19,265. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $27,000. Early-career interior design graduates make about $40,615. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Central Michigan University came in at #24 for value in interior design this year. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,480. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $28,500. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Central Michigan University generally make around $36,917. That is a strong return on a $28,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Illinois State University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value interior design schools. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,410, with out-of-state students paying around $26,058. Students borrow a median of $24,986 to complete the interior design program here. Early-career interior design graduates make about $39,287. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 34 Best Value Interior Design Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for interior design this year:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 34 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 34 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.
