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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Graphic Design (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

41 Ranked Colleges
895 Degrees Awarded
$14,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 8,541 people earned their degree in graphic design, making the major the 105th most popular in the United States.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,456 graphic design graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 895 graphic design graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 41 colleges that offer a degree in graphic design. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent graphic design programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the graphic design program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 “Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” 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.

Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Graphic Design (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 56 bachelors’s graphic design degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k list, UIUC has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $5,477 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UIUC Graphic Design Report

#2

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Michigan State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Michigan State is a public institution located in East Lansing, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 35 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Michigan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $6,686 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Michigan State University.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 more about Graphic Design at Michigan State

#3

University of Wisconsin - Stout

Menomonie, Wisconsin
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Stout. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Wisconsin - Stout is located in Menomonie, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 54 bachelors’s graphic design degrees to qualified students.

UW - Stout not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $10,695 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - Stout.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Graphic Design at UW - Stout

#4

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan
#19 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ferris State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Ferris State University is located in Big Rapids, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 bachelors’s graphic design degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ferris, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ferris is $7,207 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Graphic Design at Ferris State University

#10 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Chicago. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UIC is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 38 bachelors’s graphic design degrees in 2019-2020.

UIC also made our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Chicago is $10,648 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Illinois at Chicago Graphic Design Report

#6

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#15 in overall quality

Central Michigan University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Central Michigan University is a fairly large public school situated in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. It awarded 15 bachelors’s graphic design degrees in 2019-2020.

Central Michigan did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Central Michigan is $11,598 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Graphic Design at Central Michigan University

#7

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. This fairly large school is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and it awarded 58 bachelors’s graphic design degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,490 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oakland University.

Full Oakland Graphic Design Report

#6 in overall quality

Miami University - Oxford landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Oxford, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s graphic design degrees to 19 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k list, Miami University - Oxford has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Miami University - Oxford is $13,759 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Miami University - Oxford Graphic Design Report

#9

Saginaw Valley State University

University Center, Michigan

Saginaw Valley State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Saginaw Valley State University is a medium-sized public school situated in University Center, Michigan. It awarded 36 bachelors’s graphic design degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,522 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Saginaw Valley State University.

Read more about Graphic Design at Saginaw Valley State University

#10

Taylor University

Upland, Indiana
#5 in overall quality

Taylor University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Taylor U is a small school located in Upland, Indiana that handed out 16 bachelors’s graphic design degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Taylor U, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Taylor U is $18,399 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Graphic Design at Taylor U

#11

Hanover College

Hanover, Indiana
#23 in overall quality

Hanover College landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Hanover is located in Hanover, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s graphic design degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k list, Hanover has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $16,539 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Hanover.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Graphic Design at Hanover College

#12

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan
#22 in overall quality

Western Michigan University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. WMU is a public institution located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

WMU also made our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #22. It costs about $13,021 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend WMU.

Read more about Graphic Design at WMU

#13

Cedarville University

Cedarville, Ohio
#12 in overall quality

Cedarville University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cedarville, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s graphic design degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cedarville, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cedarville University is $16,897 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, 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 88%.

Read more about Graphic Design at Cedarville

#14

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

Bradley University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Bradley is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Peoria, Illinois. It awarded 18 bachelors’s graphic design degrees in 2019-2020.

Bradley not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Bradley University is $17,205 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full Bradley Graphic Design Report

#25 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Northeastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s graphic design degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeastern Illinois University also took the #25 spot in our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northeastern Illinois University is $14,816 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Graphic Design at Northeastern Illinois University

#16

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois
#24 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Elmhurst University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Elmhurst, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 7 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s graphic design students in 2019-2020.

Elmhurst also made our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #24. The yearly cost to attend Elmhurst University is $16,903 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

Read full report on Graphic Design at Elmhurst

#17

Augustana College

Rock Island, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, Augustana College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Augustana is a small school located in Rock Island, Illinois that handed out 14 bachelors’s graphic design degrees in 2019-2020.

Augustana also made our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for Augustana is $20,355 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Augustana College Graphic Design Report

#18

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, Ohio

With a ranking of #18, Cleveland State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cleveland State University is a public institution located in Cleveland, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Cleveland State University is $14,213 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Cleveland State University Graphic Design Report

University of Akron Main Campus ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Akron Main Campus is located in Akron, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 30 bachelors’s graphic design degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Akron Main Campus is $14,816 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Graphic Design at University of Akron Main Campus

Grace College and Theological Seminary landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Grace College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Winona Lake, Indiana. It awarded 7 bachelors’s graphic design degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $17,874 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Grace College and Theological Seminary.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Graphic Design at Grace College

#18 in overall quality

Baldwin Wallace University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Berea, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 13 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s graphic design students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Baldwin Wallace College, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Baldwin Wallace College is $17,430 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, 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 Graphic Design at Baldwin Wallace College

#22

Madonna University

Livonia, Michigan

With a ranking of #22, Madonna University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Livonia, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 7 degrees to qualified bachelors’s graphic design students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Madonna is $13,455 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Madonna University Graphic Design Report

#23

North Central College

Naperville, Illinois
#17 in overall quality

North Central College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Naperville, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 23 degrees to qualified bachelors’s graphic design students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Central, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $18,889 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend North Central.

The 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 Graphic Design at North Central College

#24

Concordia University, Wisconsin

Mequon, Wisconsin

Concordia University, Wisconsin did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. Concordia University, Wisconsin is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Mequon, Wisconsin. It awarded 5 bachelors’s graphic design degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Concordia University, Wisconsin is $20,297 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Graphic Design at Concordia University, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #25, Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. OHIO Athens is a large school located in Athens, Ohio that handed out 21 bachelors’s graphic design degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for OHIO Athens is $17,584 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Graphic Design at Ohio University - Athens Campus

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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