by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin” ranking - to help you make that decision.
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 Wisconsin, there were 798 design & applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,099 and $20,468 respectively.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin” ranking looked at 29 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.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin”.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin list. This small school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 124 ’s design degrees 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%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Stout. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin. Menomonie, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 149 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 University of Wisconsin - Stout Design & Applied Arts Report
Out of the 29 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin that were part of this year’s ranking, Mount Mary University landed the #3 spot on the list. Mount Mary is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 11 ’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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northland College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin list. Ashland, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 1 students in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Northland College
Out of the 29 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin that were part of this year’s ranking, Madison Area Technical College landed the #5 spot on the list. Madison Area Technical College is a fairly large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 76 ’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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Madison Area Technical College
Western Technical College ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin list. Western Technical College is a small school located in La Crosse, Wisconsin that handed out 28 ’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. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 Western Technical College
Gateway Technical College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin ranking. Gateway Technical College is a public institution located in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 30 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Gateway Technical College
With a ranking of #8, Carthage College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin list. Carthage is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 15 ’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%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Carthage College
Waukesha County Technical College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 49 ’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%.
Full Waukesha County Technical College Design & Applied Arts Report
Moraine Park Technical College ranked #10 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin list. Moraine Park Technical College is a public institution located in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 22 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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 Moraine Park Technical College
Rasmussen University - Wisconsin landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin ranking. Rasmussen University - Wisconsin is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 8 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
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%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Rasmussen University - Wisconsin
Edgewood College ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin list. Edgewood College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 7 ’s design degrees 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%.
Fox Valley Technical College ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin list. Fox Valley Technical College is a fairly large school located in Appleton, Wisconsin that handed out 41 ’s design degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin ranking, coming in at #14. UW - Stevens Point is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 23 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
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 University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin ranking. University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is a public institution located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%.
Milwaukee Area Technical College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin ranking. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a fairly large public school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 31 ’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. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Milwaukee Area Technical College
Wisconsin Lutheran College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin ranking. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 0 students 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 more about Design & Applied Arts at Wisconsin Lutheran College
Saint Norbert College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin ranking. De Pere, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 6 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%.
Concordia University, Wisconsin ranked #19 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin list. Concordia University, Wisconsin is a private not-for-profit institution located in Mequon, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
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%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Concordia University, Wisconsin
Cardinal Stritch University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin ranking. Cardinal Stritch University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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%. 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 full report on Design & Applied Arts at Cardinal Stritch University
Lakeland University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin ranking. This small school is located in Plymouth, Wisconsin, and it awarded 13 ’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%.
With a ranking of #22, Alverno College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin list. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 1 students in 2021-2022.
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%. 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.
With a ranking of #23, Marian University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin list. Located in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 2 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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%.
University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin ranking. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 92 students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at University of Wisconsin - Madison
Viterbo University ranked #25 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Wisconsin list. Viterbo is a private not-for-profit institution located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 0 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies