2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Wisconsin
[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 29 schools to find the best return on investment for design & applied arts students.
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2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Wisconsin
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in design & applied arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
Gateway Technical College tops our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools in Wisconsin. Located in the city of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,956, with out-of-state students paying around $7,199. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Gateway Technical College earn a median of $29,734 early in their careers. Set against $15,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Waukesha County Technical College, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,803, while out-of-state students pay about $7,046. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $15,554 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Waukesha County Technical College earn a median of $39,095 early in their careers. Set against $15,554 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Milwaukee Area Technical College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,184, compared with $7,427 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $18,296. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Milwaukee Area Technical College generally make around $27,795. Set against $18,296 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fox Valley Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Fox Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, with out-of-state students paying around $7,283. 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.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Chippewa Valley Technical College earned it the #5 place for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,844, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $14,234 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $45,531. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College earned the #6 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,960, with out-of-state students paying around $7,203. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $14,997 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College generally make around $42,016. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Madison Area Technical College placed #7 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,977 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,141. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $15,750. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $30,710. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Technical College La Cross came in at #8 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College La Cross is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,820 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,078 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $12,057 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $23,032. Set against $12,057 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay earned the #9 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,700, while out-of-state students pay about $17,288. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $18,186. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Green Bay generally make around $32,991. Set against $18,186 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point placed #10 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,228, compared with $18,248 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $23,684 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $41,243. Set against $23,684 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #11 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $20,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $49,780. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee came in at #12 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,398, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $26,657. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $46,561. That is a strong return on a $26,657 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Stout landed the #13 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,701, compared with $19,265 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stout generally make around $40,615. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Mount Mary College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Mount Mary College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. Students from in state pay about $35,420 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Mount Mary College earn a median of $30,053 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Carthage College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Kenosha, Carthage College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,750 in tuition and fees. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Carthage College earn a median of $35,511 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Carthage College admits about 87% of applicants.
Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design earned the #16 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,743. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $28,801. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
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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 · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
