2023 Best Value Colleges for Graphic Design (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
36
Ranked Colleges
1,492
Degrees Awarded
$10,600
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Graphic Design is the 107th most popular major in the country with 8,710 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,492 graphic design graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 36 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.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the graphic design program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Graphic Design Schools
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Graphic Design (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 51 diplomas to qualified ’s graphic design students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k list, UIUC has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $4,858 for Great Lakes Region Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Graphic Design Report
Out of the 36 schools in the Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Michigan State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school awarded 38 degrees to qualified ’s graphic design students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k list, Michigan State has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State is $6,927 for great lakes region graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Graphic Design at Michigan State University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Madison Area Technical College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Madison College is a fairly large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 48 ’s graphic design degrees in 2020-2021.
Madison College also took the #7 spot in our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Madison Area Technical College is $7,567 for great lakes region graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Graphic Design at Madison College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ferris State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Big Rapids, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 37 degrees to qualified ’s graphic design students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k list, Ferris has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $6,577 for Great Lakes Region Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ferris State University.
Read more about Graphic Design at Ferris State University
Out of the 36 schools in the Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Stout landed the #5 spot on the list. UW - Stout is a medium-sized school located in Menomonie, Wisconsin that handed out 42 ’s graphic design degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Stout not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Stout is $10,074 for great lakes region graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Graphic Design at UW - Stout
Cuyahoga Community College District landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cuyahoga Community College District is a public institution located in Cleveland, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 42 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $3,141 for great lakes region graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Cuyahoga Community College District.
Read full report on Graphic Design at Cuyahoga Community College District
University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UIC is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 50 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $10,549 for great lakes region graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Illinois at Chicago.
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%.
Full University of Illinois at Chicago Graphic Design Report
Milwaukee Area Technical College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
MATC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $7,167 for great lakes region graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Milwaukee Area Technical College.
Full Milwaukee Area Technical College Graphic Design Report
With a ranking of #9, Oakland University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and it awarded 58 ’s graphic design degrees in 2020-2021.
Oakland also took the #18 spot in our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Oakland University is $8,949 for great lakes region graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Graphic Design at Oakland University
Miami University - Oxford came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Oxford, Ohio, and it awarded 15 ’s graphic design degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Miami University - Oxford, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Miami University - Oxford is $13,956 for Great Lakes Region 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 88%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Miami University - Oxford Graphic Design Report
Kalamazoo Valley Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It awarded 7 ’s graphic design degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Kalamazoo Valley Community College is $2,426 for great lakes region graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Graphic Design at Kalamazoo Valley Community College
With a ranking of #12, Western Technical College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Western Technical College is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 24 ’s graphic design degrees to qualified students.
Western Technical College also made our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #24. The estimated yearly cost for Western Technical College is $7,743 for Great Lakes Region Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
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.
Full Western Technical College Graphic Design Report
Gateway Technical College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Gateway Technical College is a medium-sized public school situated in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It awarded 47 ’s graphic design degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Gateway Technical College is $6,921 for Great Lakes Region Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Graphic Design at Gateway Technical College
Waukesha County Technical College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Pewaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s graphic design degrees to 24 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $7,572 for great lakes region graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Waukesha County Technical College.
Full WCTC Graphic Design Report
Central Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 24 degrees to qualified ’s graphic design students in 2020-2021.
Central Michigan not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $10,805 for great lakes region graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Central Michigan University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 Graphic Design at Central Michigan University
Western Michigan University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. WMU is a fairly large school located in Kalamazoo, Michigan that handed out 17 ’s graphic design degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at WMU, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend WMU is $13,112 for great lakes region graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Graphic Design at WMU
Bowling Green State University - Main Campus ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. BGSU is a fairly large school located in Bowling Green, Ohio that handed out 22 ’s graphic design degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at BGSU, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend BGSU is $14,079 for Great Lakes Region Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Graphic Design Report
Bradley University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. This medium-sized school is located in Peoria, Illinois, and it awarded 13 ’s graphic design degrees in 2020-2021.
Bradley also made our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $16,588 for great lakes region graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Bradley University.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 more about Graphic Design at Bradley
Cedarville University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. Cedarville University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cedarville, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 25 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Cedarville also made our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $15,439 for Great Lakes Region Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Cedarville University.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. 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%.
Full Cedarville Graphic Design Report
Saginaw Valley State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in University Center, Michigan, and it awarded 27 ’s graphic design degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Saginaw Valley State University is $10,424 for great lakes region graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Graphic Design at Saginaw Valley State University
University of Akron Main Campus landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Akron, Ohio that handed out 34 ’s graphic design degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Akron Main Campus is $14,420 for Great Lakes Region Graphic Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Graphic Design at University of Akron Main Campus
Taylor University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Taylor University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Upland, Indiana. It awarded 17 ’s graphic design degrees in 2020-2021.
Taylor U also made our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #20. The estimated yearly cost for Taylor U is $16,325 for great lakes region graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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 full report on Graphic Design at Taylor University
Cleveland State University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cleveland State University is a fairly large school located in Cleveland, Ohio that handed out 15 ’s graphic design degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,272 for great lakes region graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Cleveland State University.
Read full report on Graphic Design at Cleveland State University
With a ranking of #24, Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ohio University - Athens Campus is a large school located in Athens, Ohio that handed out 23 ’s graphic design degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k list, OHIO Athens has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for OHIO Athens is $17,614 for great lakes region graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Graphic Design at Ohio University - Athens Campus
North Central College landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. North Central is located in Naperville, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 ’s graphic design degrees to qualified students.
North Central also made our “Best Graphic Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #22. It costs about $19,430 for great lakes region graphic design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend North Central.
The low undergrad 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 North Central College
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