2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2019-2020, 36,854 people earned their degree in design and applied arts, making the major the 34th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, design and applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $29,542 and had an average of $27,114 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 5,582 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,377 and $26,458 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 1,186 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,508 and $17,812 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 31 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in design and applied arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great design and applied arts programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the design and applied arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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More Ways to Rank Design & Applied Arts Schools
The design school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Oakland Community College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Bloomfield Hills, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 30 students in 2019-2020.
Oakland Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Oakland Community College is $-51 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k. The negative number means the student will receive more financial aid on average than it costs to attend the school.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Oakland Community College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Madison Area Technical College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 102 students in 2019-2020.
Madison College also took the #1 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Madison College is $7,258 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Sinclair Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Dayton, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 67 degrees to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.
Sinclair Community College also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $2,567 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Sinclair Community College.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Sinclair Community College
Out of the 31 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Elgin Community College landed the #4 spot on the list. Elgin, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.
ECC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend ECC is $2,384 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cuyahoga Community College District. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cuyahoga Community College District is located in Cleveland, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 52 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.
Cuyahoga Community College District not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Cuyahoga Community College District is $3,635 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Cuyahoga Community College District
Washtenaw Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Washtenaw Community College is a fairly large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 22 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k list, Washtenaw Community College has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Washtenaw Community College is $266 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Washtenaw Community College
With a ranking of #7, Kalamazoo Valley Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Kalamazoo Valley Community College is $3,185 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Kalamazoo Valley Community College
With a ranking of #8, Henry Ford College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Henry Ford College is a fairly large public school situated in Dearborn, Michigan. It awarded 19 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k list, Henry Ford College has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $2,460 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Henry Ford College.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Henry Ford College
Ivy Tech Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Ivy Tech Community College is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 118 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
Ivy Tech Community College also took the #8 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ivy Tech Community College is $5,397 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Ivy Tech Community College
Moraine Park Technical College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Moraine Park Technical College is a small school located in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin that handed out 21 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k list, Moraine Park Technical College has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Moraine Park Technical College is $6,706 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Moraine Park Technical College
With a ranking of #11, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and it awarded 9 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
IUPUI also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend IUPUI is $5,052 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a ranking of #12, Waukesha County Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 28 degrees to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.
WCTC also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for Waukesha County Technical College is $7,830 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Waukesha County Technical College
Western Technical College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, this small public school awarded 42 diplomas to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.
Western Technical College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Western Technical College is $7,382 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.
The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Western Technical College
With a ranking of #14, Gateway Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Gateway Technical College is a medium-sized school located in Kenosha, Wisconsin that handed out 33 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
Gateway Technical College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Gateway Technical College is $7,933 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Gateway Technical College
Ferris State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ferris State University is a public institution located in Big Rapids, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Ferris not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ferris State University is $7,207 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Macomb Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Macomb Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Warren, Michigan. It awarded 47 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
Macomb Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $8,724 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Macomb Community College.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Macomb Community College
Milwaukee Area Technical College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. MATC is a fairly large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 27 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k list, MATC has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Milwaukee Area Technical College is $7,340 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Milwaukee Area Technical College
Fox Valley Technical College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. FVTC is located in Appleton, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 45 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.
FVTC also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend Fox Valley Technical College is $8,385 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Fox Valley Technical College
Lansing Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. LCC is located in Lansing, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k list, LCC has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $4,494 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lansing Community College.
University of Cincinnati - Blue Ash College landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Blue Ash, Ohio, this medium-sized public school handed out 14 diplomas to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.
UC Blue Ash College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Cincinnati - Blue Ash College is $11,883 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Grand Rapids Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 1 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
Grand Rapids Community College also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #25. The estimated yearly cost for Grand Rapids Community College is $6,668 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Grand Rapids Community College Design & Applied Arts Report
Mid Michigan College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mid Michigan College is a public institution located in Harrison, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $6,352 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Mid Michigan College.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Mid Michigan College
Owens Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Perrysburg, Ohio, and it awarded 21 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
Owens State Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Owens State Community College is $6,889 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Owens State Community College
Vincennes University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Vincennes, Indiana, and it awarded 14 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
Vincennes University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Vincennes University is $8,729 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Vincennes University
Mott Community College landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Flint, Michigan, this medium-sized public school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $6,287 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend MCC.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
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Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Design & Applied Arts students in the Great Lakes Region
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Design & Applied Arts students in the Great Lakes Region
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Design & Applied Arts students with family income less than $30k in the Great Lakes Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region
Design & Applied Arts students with family income $48-$75k in the Great Lakes Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income Over $110k) in the Great Lakes Region
Design & Applied Arts students with family income exceeding $110k in the Great Lakes Region
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Design & Applied Arts students in the Great Lakes Region
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Design & Applied Arts students with family income $30-$48k in the Great Lakes Region
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Design & Applied Arts students with family income $75-$110k in the Great Lakes Region
Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
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