2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 196 schools to find the best return on investment for design & applied arts students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in design & applied arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
Sinclair Community College earned the #1 spot for value among design & applied arts schools in the Great Lakes Region. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,675, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $11,000. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $24,490. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Cuyahoga Community College District came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,249, while out-of-state students pay about $7,249. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,795 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $22,517. That is a strong return on a $11,795 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Elgin Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,252 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of $43,975 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,727 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Harper College, which ranked #4. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,894, compared with $11,874 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $10,963. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Harper College earn a median of $44,523 early in their careers. Set against $10,963 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at College Of Dupage, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $11,077. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $31,798. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Joliet Junior College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,530, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $40,118. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Triton College came in at #7 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,070, while out-of-state students pay about $15,330. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $12,994. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Triton College generally make around $43,278. Set against $12,994 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Muskegon Community College landed the #8 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the city of Muskegon, Muskegon Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,250 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,010. Students borrow a median of $14,928 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Muskegon Community College generally make around $48,267. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College came in at #9 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,144 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,094. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Kalamazoo Valley Community College generally make around $44,198. Set against $15,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Henry Ford Community College earned the #10 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,568 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,816 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $19,075. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $19,911. Set against $19,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Columbus State Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,488 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,224. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $9,041 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,435. That is a strong return on a $9,041 median debt.
Ivy Tech Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,710 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $26,602. That is a strong return on a $12,710 median debt.
Gateway Technical College placed #13 among the best values for design & applied arts. Gateway Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Kenosha. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,956, compared with $7,199 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Gateway Technical College earn a median of $29,734 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,500 median debt.
Mchenry County College landed the #14 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Mchenry County College is a large public school located in the rural area of Crystal Lake. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,162, while out-of-state students pay about $14,399. Students borrow a median of $7,440 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Mchenry County College generally make around $24,177. That is a strong return on a $7,440 median debt.
Sauk Valley Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the rural area of Dixon, Sauk Valley Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,340, with out-of-state students paying around $12,900. Students borrow a median of $12,811 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Sauk Valley Community College earn a median of $48,855 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Waukesha County Technical College placed #16 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,803 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,046. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $15,554. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $39,095. Set against $15,554 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Jackson Community College placed #17 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the rural area of Jackson, Jackson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,350, while out-of-state students pay about $10,200. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $16,960. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Jackson Community College earn a median of $41,322 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,960 median debt.
University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College earned the #18 position for value in design & applied arts this year. University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a large public school located in the suburb of Blue Ash. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,106, with out-of-state students paying around $15,904. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $19,408 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College generally make around $42,936. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rend Lake College earned the #19 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the rural area of Ina, Rend Lake College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,500, compared with $7,800 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $8,688 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Rend Lake College earn a median of $42,770 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,688 median debt.
Stark State College landed the #20 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Stark State College is a large public school located in the suburb of North Canton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,790, while out-of-state students pay about $7,886. Students borrow a median of $17,349 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Stark State College generally make around $42,724. Set against $17,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fox Valley Technical College landed the #21 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Fox Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, compared with $7,283 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $16,582 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Fox Valley Technical College generally make around $32,673. Set against $16,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lakeland Community College came in at #22 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Kirtland, Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,872 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,235 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $19,857 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Lakeland Community College generally make around $51,941. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Milwaukee Area Technical College placed #23 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,184, while out-of-state students pay about $7,427. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $18,296 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Milwaukee Area Technical College earn a median of $27,795 early in their careers. Set against $18,296 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
St Clair County Community College earned the #24 position for value in design & applied arts this year. St Clair County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Port Huron. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,212, while out-of-state students pay about $12,150. Students borrow a median of $16,379 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of St Clair County Community College earn a median of $45,735 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chippewa Valley Technical College placed #25 among the best values for design & applied arts. Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,844, with out-of-state students paying around $7,087. Students borrow a median of $14,234 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $45,531. Set against $14,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in design & applied arts:
Narrow Design & Applied Arts Schools by State
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
View All Design & Applied Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 196 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 61 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.
