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2023 Best Value Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income Over $110k) in the Great Lakes Region

72 Ranked Colleges
5,375 Degrees Awarded
$17,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Design & Applied Arts is the 36th most popular major in the country with 36,301 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, design and applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,426 and had an average of $25,481 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 5,375 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,734 and $25,957 respectively.

This year’s “Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k” ranking looked at 72 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in design and applied arts. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent design and applied arts programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the design and applied arts program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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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 Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

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Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income Over $110k) in the Great Lakes Region

1

Out of the 72 schools in the Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k that were part of this year’s ranking, Madison Area Technical College landed the #1 spot on the list. Madison College is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 94 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

Madison College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Madison College is $10,053 for Great Lakes Region Design students whose families make more than $110k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Madison Area Technical College

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Sinclair Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Located in Dayton, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 153 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Sinclair Community College is $4,959 for Great Lakes Region Design students whose families make more than $110k.

Full Sinclair Community College Design & Applied Arts Report

3
UW - Stout crest
University of Wisconsin - Stout
Menomonie, Wisconsin

Out of the 72 schools in the Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Stout landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Wisconsin - Stout is located in Menomonie, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 135 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Stout, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Stout is $15,589 for Great Lakes Region Design students whose families make more than $110k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at UW - Stout

4
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Out of the 72 schools in the Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #4 spot on the list. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 63 students in 2020-2021.

Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University - Main Campus is $13,377 for Great Lakes Region Design students whose families make more than $110k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Purdue University - Main Campus

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Cuyahoga Community College District. The school came in at #5 for the Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k. This fairly large school is located in Cleveland, Ohio, and it awarded 76 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Cuyahoga Community College District is $4,909 for Great Lakes Region Design students whose families make more than $110k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Cuyahoga Community College District

6
MATC crest
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee Area Technical College landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. MATC is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 29 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $8,721 for Great Lakes Region Design students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Milwaukee Area Technical College.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Milwaukee Area Technical College

7
Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, Indiana

With a ranking of #7, Ivy Tech Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Ivy Tech Community College is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 190 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Ivy Tech Community College is $7,669 for great lakes region design students whose families make more than $110k.

Full Ivy Tech Community College Design & Applied Arts Report

8

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. UC is a large public school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 253 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

UC also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is $22,415 for Great Lakes Region Design students whose families make more than $110k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at UC

9
Gateway Technical College crest
Gateway Technical College
Kenosha, Wisconsin

Gateway Technical College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Gateway Technical College is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 54 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $8,487 for Great Lakes Region Design students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Gateway Technical College.

The impressive undergraduate 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 Gateway Technical College Design & Applied Arts Report

10
IU Bloomington crest
Indiana University - Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana

Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Indiana University - Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 38 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Bloomington is $14,619 for Great Lakes Region Design students whose families make more than $110k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full IU Bloomington Design & Applied Arts Report

11
Western Technical College crest
Western Technical College
La Crosse, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #11, Western Technical College did quite well on the 2023 Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Western Technical College is a small public school situated in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It awarded 28 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Western Technical College is $10,279 for great lakes region design students whose families make more than $110k.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Western Technical College Design & Applied Arts Report

12

Waukesha County Technical College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. WCTC is a public institution located in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 37 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Waukesha County Technical College is $9,749 for Great Lakes Region Design students whose families make more than $110k.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Waukesha County Technical College

13

University of Wisconsin - Madison ranked #13 on this year’s Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k list. UW - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 68 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Madison also took the #5 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Madison is $17,234 for Great Lakes Region Design students whose families make more than $110k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UW - Madison Design & Applied Arts Report

14
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #14. Ferris State University is a public institution located in Big Rapids, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 112 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Ferris also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #23. The yearly cost to attend Ferris is $12,213 for Great Lakes Region Design students whose families make more than $110k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Ferris

15

Kalamazoo Valley Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It awarded 14 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Kalamazoo Valley Community College is $4,525 for great lakes region design students whose families make more than $110k.

Full Kalamazoo Valley Community College Design & Applied Arts Report

16

Kent State University at Kent came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Kent, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 238 students in 2020-2021.

Kent State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Kent State University at Kent is $19,117 for great lakes region design students whose families make more than $110k.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Kent State University at Kent

17

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 105 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UIUC is $14,321 for Great Lakes Region Design students whose families make more than $110k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at UIUC

18
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Rochester Hills, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 58 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $13,449 for great lakes region design students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Oakland.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Oakland Design & Applied Arts Report

19

Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 47 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $16,845 for Great Lakes Region Design students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Ohio State.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Ohio State

20
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Central Michigan is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 69 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $16,007 for great lakes region design students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Central Michigan University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Central Michigan University

21
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Muncie, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 39 students in 2020-2021.

Ball State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ball State University is $14,765 for Great Lakes Region Design students whose families make more than $110k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Ball State University Design & Applied Arts Report

22

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Stevens Point, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 27 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UW - Stevens Point is $13,346 for great lakes region design students whose families make more than $110k.

Full University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Design & Applied Arts Report

23

With a ranking of #23, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k list. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 83 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UIC is $13,214 for great lakes region design students whose families make more than $110k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at University of Illinois at Chicago

24

With a ranking of #24, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2023 Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k list. IUPUI is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 31 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $12,416 for Great Lakes Region Design students whose families make more than $110k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at IUPUI

25
Owens State Community College crest
Owens Community College
Perrysburg, Ohio

Owens Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Perrysburg, Ohio, and it awarded 22 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Owens Community College is $10,059 for great lakes region design students whose families make more than $110k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Owens Community College

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