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2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region

198 Ranked Colleges
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Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking.

In 2021-2022, 36,323 people earned their degree in design & applied arts, making the major the 36th most popular in the United States. In , design & applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $32,210 and had an average of $24,297 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 5,430 design & applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,626 and $22,786 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 198 colleges that offer a degree in design & applied arts. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their design & applied arts program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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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 “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region design students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Great Lakes Region

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The Modern College of Design. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region. The Modern College of Design is a small school located in Kettering, Ohio that handed out 54 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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 The Modern College of Design Design & Applied Arts Report

2
The Academy crest
American Academy of Art
Chicago, Illinois

Out of the 198 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, American Academy of Art landed the #2 spot on the list. American Academy of Art is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 22 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at American Academy of Art

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 124 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

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

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at MIAD

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend College for Creative Studies. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Detroit, Michigan, and it awarded 98 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% 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 College for Creative Studies Design & Applied Arts Report

5

Out of the 198 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, The North Coast College landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Lakewood, Ohio, this small private for-profit school awarded 10 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full The North Coast College Design & Applied Arts Report

6

Columbus College of Art and Design landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. CCAD is a private not-for-profit institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 123 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at CCAD

7

Art Academy of Cincinnati ranked #7 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and it awarded 26 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 Art Academy of Cincinnati

8

Cleveland Institute of Art did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. CIA is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cleveland, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 65 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Cleveland Institute of Art Design & Applied Arts Report

9
Carnbrook Academy crest
Cranbrook Academy of Art
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Cranbrook Academy of Art came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Carnbrook Academy is located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 12 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Cranbrook Academy of Art Design & Applied Arts Report

10
Columbia crest
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Columbia College Chicago came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 239 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Columbia

11

International Business College - Indianapolis landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 11 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full International Business College - Indianapolis Design & Applied Arts Report

12

University of Wisconsin - Stout came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Menomonie, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 149 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2021-2022.

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%.

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

13
Cedarville crest
Cedarville University
Cedarville, Ohio

Cedarville University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cedarville University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Cedarville, Ohio. It awarded 45 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 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 full report on Design & Applied Arts at Cedarville University

14
Adrian crest
Adrian College
Adrian, Michigan

Adrian College ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Adrian, Michigan, and it awarded 18 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad 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%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Adrian College

15
Mount Mary crest
Mount Mary University
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Mount Mary University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #15. Mount Mary University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. 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%.

Full Mount Mary University Design & Applied Arts Report

16
Defiance College crest
Defiance College
Defiance, Ohio

Defiance College ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Defiance College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Defiance, Ohio. It awarded 3 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

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

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Defiance College

17
Davis College crest
Davis College
Toledo, Ohio

Davis College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Toledo, Ohio, and it awarded 2 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 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 Davis College

18
Taylor U crest
Taylor University
Upland, Indiana

Taylor University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Taylor U is located in Upland, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 9 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Taylor U

19
Eureka College crest
Eureka College
Eureka, Illinois

Eureka College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Eureka, Illinois, and it awarded 1 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Eureka College Design & Applied Arts Report

20

Kent State University at Kent ranked #20 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Kent State University at Kent is located in Kent, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 271 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Kent State Design & Applied Arts Report

21

Southwestern Michigan College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. SMC is a public institution located in Dowagiac, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 full report on Design & Applied Arts at SMC

22

University of Cincinnati - Blue Ash College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #22. UC Blue Ash College is a public institution located in Blue Ash, Ohio. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 36 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of Cincinnati - Blue Ash College

23
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University ranked #23 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Big Rapids, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 105 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

24

With a ranking of #24, Grace College and Theological Seminary did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Grace College and Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution located in Winona Lake, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Grace College and Theological Seminary

25
Northland crest
Northland College
Ashland, Wisconsin

Northland College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Northland is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Ashland, Wisconsin. It awarded 1 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Northland College

Rest of the Best 30 in Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region

Not only did these schools make the top 30 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
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30

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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