2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Illinois
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 52 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for design & applied arts students.
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Featured Design & Applied Arts Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
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2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in design & applied arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
Elgin Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools in Illinois. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,252, with out-of-state students paying around $9,516. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $7,727. 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.
A rank of #2 makes Triton College one of the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,070, compared with $15,330 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $12,994 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Triton College generally make around $43,278. That is a strong return on a $12,994 median debt.
College Of Dupage is a great value for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,077 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $31,798. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Joliet Junior College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. In-state tuition and fees average $4,530, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $40,118 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,995 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Harper College earned it the #5 place for design & applied arts. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. In-state tuition and fees average $3,894, compared with $11,874 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $10,963 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $44,523. Set against $10,963 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mchenry County College placed #6 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,162, with out-of-state students paying around $14,399. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $7,440 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Mchenry County College earn a median of $24,177 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,440 median debt.
Rend Lake College came in at #7 for value in design & applied arts this year. Rend Lake College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Ina. Students from in state pay about $4,500 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,800 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $8,688 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Rend Lake College generally make around $42,770. That is a strong return on a $8,688 median debt.
Sauk Valley Community College came in at #8 for value in design & applied arts this year. Sauk Valley Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Dixon. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,340, with out-of-state students paying around $12,900. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $12,811 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Sauk Valley Community College earn a median of $48,855 early in their careers. Set against $12,811 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Illinois At Chicago landed the #9 spot for design & applied arts value this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,750 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $34,377. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #10 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $18,839 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $34,670. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Northeastern Illinois University placed #11 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,383, with out-of-state students paying around $22,726. Students borrow a median of $17,600 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University generally make around $49,254. Set against $17,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northeastern Illinois University admits about 75% of applicants.
Illinois State University placed #12 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $26,058. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $24,986. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $39,287. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Aurora University earned the #13 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $29,170. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $24,507 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $51,483. Set against $24,507 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Aurora University admits about 81% of applicants.
Elmhurst College came in at #14 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $42,955. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $22,400 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Elmhurst College earn a median of $51,232 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,400 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
North Central College earned the #15 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Naperville, North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,726 in tuition and fees. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of North Central College earn a median of $28,037 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. North Central College admits about 77% of applicants.
Columbia College Chicago ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,088. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $27,000. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median of $29,630 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Northwestern University placed #17 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $16,616. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $78,551. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Depaul University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $30,536. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago earned the #19 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,710. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $58,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 52 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
