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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

18 Ranked Colleges
804 Degrees Awarded
$18,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor's in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Design & Applied Arts is the 34th most popular major in the country with 36,854 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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 Illinois, there were 1,178 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,274 and $37,640 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 804 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,319 and $24,183 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 18 colleges that offered a degree 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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 18 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #1 spot on the list. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 108 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $5,477 for Illinois Bachelor’s 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 94%. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at UIUC

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Chicago. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large public school handed out 68 degrees to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Chicago is $10,648 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at UIC

#3

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Illinois State University landed the #3 spot on the list. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s design degrees to 30 students in 2019-2020.

Illinois State also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois State University is $14,470 for illinois bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Illinois State

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. SIUC is located in Carbondale, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SIUC, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Carbondale is $13,658 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at SIUC

#5

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Bradley University landed the #5 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Peoria, Illinois, and it awarded 37 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Bradley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Bradley University is $17,205 for illinois bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Bradley

#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Northeastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northeastern Illinois University is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeastern Illinois University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Northeastern Illinois University is $14,816 for illinois bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Northeastern Illinois University Design & Applied Arts Report

#7

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Elmhurst University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Elmhurst, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s design degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

Elmhurst not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $16,903 for illinois bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Elmhurst University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Elmhurst University Design & Applied Arts Report

#8

Augustana College

Rock Island, Illinois

With a ranking of #8, Augustana College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Augustana College is a small school located in Rock Island, Illinois that handed out 14 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Augustana also took the #6 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Augustana is $20,355 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Augustana

#9

Millikin University

Decatur, Illinois
#15 in overall quality

Millikin University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Millikin is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Decatur, Illinois. It awarded 6 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Millikin also took the #15 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $17,656 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Millikin.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Millikin Design & Applied Arts Report

#10

Dominican University

River Forest, Illinois

With a ranking of #10, Dominican University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. River Forest, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s design degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

Dominican U also took the #12 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Dominican University is $17,060 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Dominican University

#11

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Olivet Nazarene University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Olivet Nazarene is a small school located in Bourbonnais, Illinois that handed out 7 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Olivet Nazarene did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $15,806 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Olivet Nazarene.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Olivet Nazarene University Design & Applied Arts Report

#12

North Central College

Naperville, Illinois

North Central College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Naperville, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s design degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.

North Central also took the #9 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Central College is $18,889 for illinois bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at North Central College

Trinity International University - Illinois landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Deerfield, Illinois, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

TIU Illinois not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Trinity International University - Illinois is $17,405 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 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 TIU Illinois

#14

Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Columbia College Chicago landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Columbia is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 272 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $0-$30k list, Columbia has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Columbia College Chicago is $27,120 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Columbia College Chicago Design & Applied Arts Report

#15

American Academy of Art

Chicago, Illinois

American Academy of Art landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. American Academy of Art is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 27 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at The Academy, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for American Academy of Art is $23,987 for illinois bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full The Academy Design & Applied Arts Report

#16

Roosevelt University

Chicago, Illinois
#18 in overall quality

Roosevelt University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s design degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Roosevelt, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $20,398 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Roosevelt.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Roosevelt

#17

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. DePaul University is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 85 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $0-$30k list, DePaul has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $26,173 for illinois bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend DePaul University.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full DePaul Design & Applied Arts Report

#18

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Loyola Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Loyola Chicago, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Loyola University Chicago is $29,440 for illinois bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Loyola Chicago

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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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