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2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois

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Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois” 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 36,323 degrees awarded in 2021-2022. 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 Illinois, there were 1,143 design & applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,258 and $22,982 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois” ranking looked at 53 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in design & applied arts. That schools that top this list have a program in design & applied arts in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Design & Applied Arts Schools

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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 Illinois” 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.

Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois design students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in Illinois

1
The Academy crest
American Academy of Art
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend American Academy of Art. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private for-profit school awarded 22 diplomas to qualified ’s design students 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%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at American Academy of Art

2
Columbia crest
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Columbia College Chicago. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois. Columbia is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 239 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 Columbia College Chicago

3
Eureka College crest
Eureka College
Eureka, Illinois

Out of the 53 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Eureka College landed the #3 spot on the list. Eureka College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Eureka, Illinois. 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%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Eureka College

4
Bradley crest
Bradley University
Peoria, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bradley University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois list. Located in Peoria, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 37 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 Bradley University

5
Quincy U crest
Quincy University
Quincy, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Quincy University. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois. Quincy University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Quincy, Illinois. It awarded 2 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Quincy University

6
Judson crest
Judson University
Elgin, Illinois

With a ranking of #6, Judson University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois list. Judson is located in Elgin, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 7 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Judson University Design & Applied Arts Report

7

School of the Art Institute of Chicago ranked #7 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois list. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 21 ’s design 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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at School of the Art Institute of Chicago

8
Augustana crest
Augustana College
Rock Island, Illinois

With a ranking of #8, Augustana College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois list. This small school is located in Rock Island, Illinois, and it awarded 18 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Augustana College

9
North Central crest
North Central College
Naperville, Illinois

With a ranking of #9, North Central College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois list. Located in Naperville, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 18 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full North Central College Design & Applied Arts Report

10
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 110 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full DePaul University Design & Applied Arts Report

11
Dominican U crest
Dominican University
River Forest, Illinois

Dominican University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois ranking. Dominican U is a small school located in River Forest, Illinois that handed out 9 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Dominican U Design & Applied Arts Report

12
Elmhurst crest
Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, Illinois

Elmhurst University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois ranking. Elmhurst University is located in Elmhurst, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 24 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.2% 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 Elmhurst Design & Applied Arts Report

13
COD crest
College of DuPage
Glen Ellyn, Illinois

With a ranking of #13, College of DuPage did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois list. Glen Ellyn, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 81 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at College of DuPage

14
Trinity Christian crest
Trinity Christian College
Palos Heights, Illinois

Trinity Christian College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois ranking. Trinity Christian College is located in Palos Heights, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 5 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

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. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 Trinity Christian College Design & Applied Arts Report

15

University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois ranking. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 100 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 University of Illinois at Chicago

16

Trinity International University - Illinois did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #16. Trinity International University - Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution located in Deerfield, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Trinity International University - Illinois

17

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois ranking. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 100 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Design & Applied Arts Report

18
Olivet Nazarene crest
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, Illinois

Olivet Nazarene University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois ranking. Olivet Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bourbonnais, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Olivet Nazarene

19
Joliet Junior College crest
Joliet Junior College
Joliet, Illinois

With a ranking of #19, Joliet Junior College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois list. Joliet Junior College is a public institution located in Joliet, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 33 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 Joliet Junior College Design & Applied Arts Report

20
Triton College crest
Triton College
River Grove, Illinois

With a ranking of #20, Triton College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois list. This medium-sized school is located in River Grove, Illinois, and it awarded 22 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

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%.

Full Triton College Design & Applied Arts Report

21
Roosevelt crest
Roosevelt University
Chicago, Illinois

Roosevelt University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 5 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 Roosevelt University

22

William Rainey Harper College landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois ranking. William Rainey Harper College is a fairly large public school situated in Palatine, Illinois. It awarded 43 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full William Rainey Harper College Design & Applied Arts Report

23
Lewis crest
Lewis University
Romeoville, Illinois

Lewis University ranked #23 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois list. Romeoville, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 3 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Lewis

24

With a ranking of #24, Elgin Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois list. Elgin Community College is a medium-sized school located in Elgin, Illinois that handed out 13 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at ECC

25
BHC crest
Black Hawk College
Moline, Illinois

Black Hawk College ranked #25 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Illinois list. Moline, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 4 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Black Hawk College

Notes and References

References

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