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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Graphic Design in Illinois (With Aid)

12 Ranked Colleges
329 Degrees Awarded
$22,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor's in Illinois For Those Getting Aid

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid” ranking.

Graphic Design is the 105th most popular major in the country with 8,541 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across Illinois, there were 462 graphic design graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 329 graphic design graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,319 and $24,183 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 12 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in graphic design. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great graphic design programs and 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Graphic Design Schools

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 Illinois For Those Getting Aid” 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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid.

Top 12 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Graphic Design in Illinois (With Aid)

#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 Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 56 bachelors’s graphic design degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC also took the #1 spot in our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $15,880 for illinois bachelor’s degree graphic design students with aid per year to attend UIUC.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UIUC Graphic Design Report

#3 in overall quality

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #2 spot on the list. UIC is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 38 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree graphic design students with aid list, UIC has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $13,312 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Graphic Design students with aid per year to attend University of Illinois at Chicago.

The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 UIC

#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northeastern Illinois University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Northeastern Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 6 bachelors’s graphic design degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeastern Illinois University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $15,843 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Graphic Design students with aid per year to attend Northeastern Illinois University.

Read more about Graphic Design at Northeastern Illinois University

#4

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Elmhurst University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Elmhurst University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Elmhurst, Illinois. It awarded 7 bachelors’s graphic design degrees in 2019-2020.

Elmhurst not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Elmhurst University is $21,485 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Graphic Design students with aid.

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 more about Graphic Design at Elmhurst University

#5

Augustana College

Rock Island, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Augustana College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid. Augustana is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rock Island, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Augustana did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Augustana College is $23,874 for illinois bachelor’s degree graphic design students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Augustana Graphic Design Report

#6

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

Bradley University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. Bradley University is located in Peoria, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 bachelors’s graphic design degrees to qualified students.

Bradley not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Bradley University is $25,634 for illinois bachelor’s degree graphic design students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low 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%.

Read more about Graphic Design at Bradley University

#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Trinity International University - Illinois did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Trinity International University - Illinois is a small school located in Deerfield, Illinois that handed out 8 bachelors’s graphic design degrees in 2019-2020.

TIU Illinois also took the #11 spot in our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend TIU Illinois is $21,204 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Graphic Design students with aid.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Trinity International University - Illinois Graphic Design Report

#8

North Central College

Naperville, Illinois
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, North Central College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. North Central is a small school located in Naperville, Illinois that handed out 23 bachelors’s graphic design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree graphic design students with aid list, North Central has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Central College is $24,786 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Graphic Design students with aid.

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

#9

Roosevelt University

Chicago, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Roosevelt University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 18 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s graphic design students in 2019-2020.

Roosevelt not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Roosevelt is $22,749 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Graphic Design students with aid.

Read full report on Graphic Design at Roosevelt University

#10

Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#6 in overall quality

Columbia College Chicago came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking. Columbia College Chicago is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 67 bachelors’s graphic design degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia also made our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend Columbia is $31,099 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Graphic Design students with aid.

Full Columbia College Chicago Graphic Design Report

#11

American Academy of Art

Chicago, Illinois
#10 in overall quality

American Academy of Art did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. The Academy is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 2 bachelors’s graphic design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree graphic design students with aid list, The Academy has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for American Academy of Art is $28,106 for illinois bachelor’s degree graphic design students with aid.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Graphic Design at American Academy of Art

#12

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#5 in overall quality

DePaul University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Graphic Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 41 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s graphic design students in 2019-2020.

DePaul did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend DePaul is $30,090 for illinois bachelor’s degree graphic design students with aid.

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%.

Full DePaul Graphic Design Report

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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