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2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

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 $48-$75k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking.

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 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 $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 19 colleges that offered 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.

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 $48-$75k” list to help you make the college decision.

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 Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

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 $48-$75k.

Top 19 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#6 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 $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 3 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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 $48-$75k list. Notre Dame, Indiana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s design degrees to 2 students 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 you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Notre Dame Design & Applied Arts Report

#3

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Purdue University - Main Campus is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree design students whose families make $48-$75k list, Purdue has also earned the #2 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 Purdue University - Main Campus are $28,794.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Purdue University - Main Campus

#3 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 $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school handed out 3 degrees to qualified masters’s design students in 2019-2020.

U-M also took the #3 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Design & Applied Arts Report

#8 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 $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Illinois at Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 masters’s design degrees to qualified students.

UIC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 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 University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036.

Full UIC Design & Applied Arts Report

#6

University of Wisconsin - Stout

Menomonie, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Stout did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Menomonie, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 1 diplomas to qualified masters’s design students in 2019-2020.

UW - Stout also took the #0 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 Wisconsin - Stout are $16,851, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of Wisconsin - Stout

#7

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, 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 $48-$75k list. Ferris State University is located in Big Rapids, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s design degrees to qualified students.

Ferris not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ferris are $7,908, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Ferris Design & Applied Arts Report

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #8. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 masters’s design degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IUPUI, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at IUPUI are $26,013, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full IUPUI Design & Applied Arts Report

Illinois Institute of Technology came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Illinois Tech is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 8 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois Institute of Technology are $30,695, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#10

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, Michigan
#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Eastern Michigan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Eastern Michigan is a fairly large public school situated in Ypsilanti, Michigan. It awarded 7 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Eastern Michigan not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 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 Eastern Michigan are $26,552.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Eastern Michigan University

#11

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Ball State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. 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 $48-$75k 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.

Full Ball State University Design & Applied Arts Report

#7 in overall quality

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus 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 $48-$75k ranking. UC is a public institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree design students whose families make $48-$75k list, UC has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC are $26,644, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UC 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 $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Kent, Ohio, and it awarded 15 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Kent State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Kent State University at Kent are $21,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Kent State

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 $48-$75k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Bowling Green, Ohio, and it awarded 16 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

BGSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at BGSU are $15,823, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on 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 $48-$75k ranking. Ohio University - Athens Campus is a large public school situated in Athens, Ohio. It awarded 15 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

OHIO Athens did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 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 Ohio University - Athens Campus are $17,712.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Ohio University - Athens Campus

#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 $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #16. Columbus College of Art and Design is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s design degrees to qualified students.

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 Columbus College of Art and Design are $37,370, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at CCAD

#17

College for Creative Studies

Detroit, Michigan
#4 in overall quality

College for Creative Studies did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #17. CCS is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Detroit, Michigan. It awarded 17 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree design students whose families make $48-$75k list, CCS has also earned the #4 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 College for Creative Studies are $49,655.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at College for Creative Studies

#18

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

DePaul University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 8 degrees to qualified masters’s design students in 2019-2020.

DePaul did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at DePaul University are $19,760, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full DePaul 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 $48-$75k list. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 19 masters’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. 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.

Full School of the Art Institute of Chicago 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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