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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region

30 Ranked Colleges
1,186 Degrees Awarded
$21,984 Avg Salary
Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 36,854 people earned their degree in design and applied arts, making the major the 34th most popular in the United States. 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 associate degree level specifically, there were 1,186 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,508 and $17,812 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 30 colleges that offer a degree 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the design and applied arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Madison Area Technical College

Madison, Wisconsin

Out of the 30 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Madison Area Technical College landed the #1 spot on the list. Madison College is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 102 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

Madison College also took the #1 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $10,694 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Madison Area Technical College.

Full Madison College Design & Applied Arts Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Sinclair Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Dayton, Ohio, and it awarded 67 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Sinclair Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Sinclair Community College is $5,495 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Sinclair Community College

#3

Oakland Community College

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Out of the 30 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Oakland Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. Oakland Community College is a public institution located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 30 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Oakland Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Oakland Community College is $5,411 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Oakland Community College

#4

Elgin Community College

Elgin, Illinois

Out of the 30 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Elgin Community College landed the #4 spot on the list. Elgin Community College is a medium-sized school located in Elgin, Illinois that handed out 11 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

ECC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $6,022 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend ECC.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Elgin Community College

Out of the 30 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Cuyahoga Community College District landed the #5 spot on the list. Cleveland, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 52 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k list, Cuyahoga Community College District has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $7,215 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Cuyahoga Community College District.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Cuyahoga Community College District

#6

Moraine Park Technical College

Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #6, Moraine Park Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, this small public school handed out 21 diplomas to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.

Moraine Park Technical College also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend Moraine Park Technical College is $10,930 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Moraine Park Technical College

#7

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, Indiana

Ivy Tech Community College landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Ivy Tech Community College is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 118 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ivy Tech Community College, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $8,908 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Ivy Tech Community College.

Full Ivy Tech Community College Design & Applied Arts Report

#8

Washtenaw Community College

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Washtenaw Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Washtenaw Community College is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 22 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Washtenaw Community College, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Washtenaw Community College is $5,164 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Washtenaw Community College

Kalamazoo Valley Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #9. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a public institution located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 20 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Kalamazoo Valley Community College also took the #17 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Kalamazoo Valley Community College is $6,242 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Kalamazoo Valley Community College

#10

Henry Ford College

Dearborn, Michigan

Henry Ford College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #10. Henry Ford College is a public institution located in Dearborn, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 19 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Henry Ford College also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #18. The estimated yearly cost for Henry Ford College is $5,633 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Henry Ford College

#11

Waukesha County Technical College

Pewaukee, Wisconsin

Waukesha County Technical College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This medium-sized school is located in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 28 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k list, WCTC has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $10,729 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend WCTC.

Full WCTC Design & Applied Arts Report

#12

Western Technical College

La Crosse, Wisconsin

Western Technical College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Western Technical College is a small school located in La Crosse, Wisconsin that handed out 42 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Western Technical College also took the #3 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Western Technical College is $11,347 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Western Technical College

#13

Gateway Technical College

Kenosha, Wisconsin

Gateway Technical College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Gateway Technical College is a public institution located in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 33 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Gateway Technical College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Gateway Technical College is $10,747 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Gateway Technical College Design & Applied Arts Report

#14

Macomb Community College

Warren, Michigan

Macomb Community College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Macomb Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Warren, Michigan. It awarded 47 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Macomb Community College, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Macomb Community College

#15

Lansing Community College

Lansing, Michigan

With a ranking of #15, Lansing Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Lansing Community College is located in Lansing, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

LCC also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #23. The yearly cost to attend LCC is $6,547 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at LCC

#16

Fox Valley Technical College

Appleton, Wisconsin

Fox Valley Technical College landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. FVTC is located in Appleton, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 45 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at FVTC, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $12,739 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend FVTC.

Full FVTC Design & Applied Arts Report

#17

Milwaukee Area Technical College

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #17, Milwaukee Area Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 27 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

MATC also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #14. It costs about $11,235 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Milwaukee Area Technical College.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Milwaukee Area Technical College

#7 in overall quality

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #18. IUPUI is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

IUPUI also took the #7 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $12,314 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend IUPUI.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

University of Cincinnati - Blue Ash College landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UC Blue Ash College is located in Blue Ash, Ohio and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k list, UC Blue Ash College has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,764 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UC Blue Ash College.

Full University of Cincinnati - Blue Ash College Design & Applied Arts Report

#20

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan
#13 in overall quality

Ferris State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Ferris State University is a public institution located in Big Rapids, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Ferris did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ferris State University is $14,101 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Ferris

#21

Grand Rapids Community College

Grand Rapids, Michigan
#25 in overall quality

Grand Rapids Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 1 degrees to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.

Grand Rapids Community College also took the #25 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Grand Rapids Community College is $10,055 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Grand Rapids Community College Design & Applied Arts Report

#22

Owens Community College

Perrysburg, Ohio

Owens Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Perrysburg, Ohio, this medium-sized public school handed out 21 degrees to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Owens State Community College, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Owens Community College is $9,041 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Owens State Community College

#23

Vincennes University

Vincennes, Indiana

Vincennes University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Vincennes, Indiana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Vincennes University, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $12,910 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Vincennes University.

Full Vincennes University Design & Applied Arts Report

#24

Mid Michigan College

Harrison, Michigan

Mid Michigan College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Mid Michigan College is a small school located in Harrison, Michigan that handed out 7 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $9,718 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Mid Michigan College.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Mid Michigan College

#25

Mott Community College

Flint, Michigan

Mott Community College landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Mott Community College is a public institution located in Flint, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 6 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $9,213 for great lakes region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Mott Community College.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full MCC Design & Applied Arts Report

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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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