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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

19 Ranked Colleges
190 Degrees Awarded
$30,900 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Design Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Design & Applied Arts is the 34th most popular major in the country with 36,854 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, design and applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $29,542 and had an average of $27,114 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 5,582 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,377 and $26,458 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 190 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 19 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in design and applied arts. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent design and applied arts programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the design and applied arts program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Design & Applied Arts 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 Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 19 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s design degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also took the #6 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Northwestern

#2

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Notre Dame. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution located in Notre Dame, Indiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Notre Dame not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Notre Dame are $57,522, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Notre Dame

#3

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, this large public school handed out 6 degrees to qualified masters’s design students in 2019-2020.

Purdue also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Purdue University - Main Campus

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 masters’s design degrees to qualified students.

U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at U-M

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and it awarded 1 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

IUPUI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis are $26,013, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full IUPUI Design & Applied Arts Report

#6

University of Wisconsin - Stout

Menomonie, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Stout landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Stout is located in Menomonie, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 masters’s design degrees to qualified students.

UW - Stout also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #0. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Stout are $16,851.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at University of Wisconsin - Stout

#8 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large public school handed out 15 diplomas to qualified masters’s design students in 2019-2020.

UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at UIC

#8

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Ferris State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Ferris State University is a fairly large public school situated in Big Rapids, Michigan. It awarded 8 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Ferris did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ferris are $7,908.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Ferris

#9

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#15 in overall quality

Ball State University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Ball State is a public institution located in Muncie, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree design students whose families make $30-$48k list, Ball State has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State are $26,204, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Ball State University

With a ranking of #10, Illinois Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Illinois Institute of Technology is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s design degrees to qualified students.

Illinois Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois Tech are $30,695, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Illinois Institute of Technology

#7 in overall quality

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s design degrees to qualified students.

UC also took the #7 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus are $26,644, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Design & Applied Arts Report

#12

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, Michigan
#18 in overall quality

Eastern Michigan University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and it awarded 7 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree design students whose families make $30-$48k list, Eastern Michigan has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Eastern Michigan University are $26,552, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Eastern Michigan University Design & Applied Arts Report

With a ranking of #13, Kent State University at Kent did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Kent, Ohio, this large public school awarded 15 diplomas to qualified masters’s design students in 2019-2020.

Kent State also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Kent State University at Kent are $21,952.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Kent State University at Kent

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Bowling Green, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s design degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree design students whose families make $30-$48k list, BGSU has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus are $15,823.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus

#16 in overall quality

Ohio University - Athens Campus came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Ohio University - Athens Campus is a large school located in Athens, Ohio that handed out 15 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

OHIO Athens also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #16. Average graduate tuition and fees at OHIO Athens are $17,712, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Ohio University - Athens Campus Design & Applied Arts Report

#9 in overall quality

Columbus College of Art and Design did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. Columbus College of Art and Design is a small school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 10 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

CCAD also took the #9 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CCAD are $37,370, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Columbus College of Art and Design Design & Applied Arts Report

#17

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

DePaul University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. DePaul is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 8 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

DePaul also took the #12 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at DePaul University are $19,760, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at DePaul University

#18

College for Creative Studies

Detroit, Michigan
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, College for Creative Studies did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. CCS is a small school located in Detroit, Michigan that handed out 17 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

CCS also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at College for Creative Studies are $49,655, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full College for Creative Studies Design & Applied Arts Report

#14 in overall quality

School of the Art Institute of Chicago ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s design degrees to 19 students in 2019-2020.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago also took the #14 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at School of the Art Institute of Chicago are $43,912, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at School of the Art Institute of Chicago

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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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