2026 Best Value Prepress/Desktop Publishing & Digital Imaging Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Prepress/Desktop Publishing & Digital Imaging Design Schools
Leading the list is Moraine Valley Community College, our #1 best value for prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,822, while out-of-state students pay about $9,846. Typical student debt for prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design graduates is $11,149. Early-career prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design graduates make about $43,844. Set against $11,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lake Land College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design, landing the #2 spot this year. Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mattoon. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,415, while out-of-state students pay about $14,301. Prepress/desktop Publishing & Digital Imaging Design graduates carry a median of $7,769 in student loans. Early-career prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design graduates make about $30,294. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lewis And Clark Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design schools. Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Godfrey. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,340, compared with $7,840 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,602 to complete the prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design program here. Soon after graduation, prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design degree recipients from Lewis And Clark Community College generally make around $41,313. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kellogg Community College earned it the #4 place for prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design. Located in the city of Battle Creek, Kellogg Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,118, compared with $8,282 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design graduates is $20,432. Prepress/desktop Publishing & Digital Imaging Design graduates of Kellogg Community College earn a median of $32,616 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Joliet Junior College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design, landing the #5 spot this year. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,530, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Typical student debt for prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design graduates is $11,995. Early-career prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design graduates make about $40,118. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harper College placed #6 among the best values for prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,894, while out-of-state students pay about $11,874. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete the prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design program here. Prepress/desktop Publishing & Digital Imaging Design graduates of Harper College earn a median of $44,523 early in their careers. Set against $10,963 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwestern Illinois College earned the #7 position for value in prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design this year. Set in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,230, with out-of-state students paying around $6,720. Students borrow a median of $10,388 to complete the prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design program here. Soon after graduation, prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design degree recipients from Southwestern Illinois College generally make around $44,345. That is a strong return on a $10,388 median debt.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College earned the #8 position for value in prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design this year. Located in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,960, while out-of-state students pay about $7,203. Students borrow a median of $14,997 to complete the prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design program here. Soon after graduation, prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design degree recipients from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College generally make around $42,016. Set against $14,997 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northcentral Technical College came in at #9 for value in prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design this year. Located in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,889, while out-of-state students pay about $7,132. Prepress/desktop Publishing & Digital Imaging Design graduates carry a median of $11,709 in student loans. Early-career prepress/desktop publishing & digital imaging design graduates make about $41,696. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
[Prepress/Desktop Publishing & Digital Imaging Design](/majors/communications-tech-support/graphic-communications/prepress-desktop-publishing-and-digital-imaging-design/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
