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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois

18 Ranked Colleges
804 Degrees Awarded
$25,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor's in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k

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 a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 Illinois, there were 1,178 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,274 and $37,640 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 804 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,319 and $24,183 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking analyzed 18 colleges that offered a degree in design and applied arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great design and applied arts 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 design and applied arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Design & Applied Arts 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 Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique 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 a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k.

Top 18 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 108 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $21,998 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $75-$110k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 Design & Applied Arts at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Chicago. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k. UIC is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 68 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $20,270 for illinois bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $75-$110k 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 more about Design & Applied Arts at UIC

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #3 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Carbondale, Illinois, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUC also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Carbondale is $20,698 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at SIUC

#13 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northeastern Illinois University landed the #4 spot on the list. Northeastern Illinois University is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northeastern Illinois University, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northeastern Illinois University is $22,526 for illinois bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Northeastern Illinois University

#5

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Illinois State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k. Illinois State University is a large school located in Normal, Illinois that handed out 30 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $75-$110k list, Illinois State has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois State University is $25,379 for illinois bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $75-$110k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Illinois State

#6

Dominican University

River Forest, Illinois

Dominican University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Dominican U is a small private not-for-profit school situated in River Forest, Illinois. It awarded 27 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Dominican U also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend Dominican University is $21,979 for illinois bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $75-$110k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Dominican U

#7

Millikin University

Decatur, Illinois
#15 in overall quality

Millikin University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Millikin is a private not-for-profit institution located in Decatur, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Millikin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Millikin University is $23,486 for illinois bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $75-$110k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Millikin

#8

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Olivet Nazarene University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k list. This small school is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Olivet Nazarene not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Olivet Nazarene is $21,306 for illinois bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $75-$110k.

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%.

Full Olivet Nazarene University Design & Applied Arts Report

#9

Augustana College

Rock Island, Illinois

Augustana College landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Augustana College is located in Rock Island, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

Augustana also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for Augustana is $23,730 for illinois bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $75-$110k.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Augustana College

#10

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois
#10 in overall quality

Elmhurst University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #10. Elmhurst University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Elmhurst, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Elmhurst did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Elmhurst University is $23,604 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $75-$110k.

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 Design & Applied Arts at Elmhurst University

#11

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois

Bradley University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #11. Bradley University is located in Peoria, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 37 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

Bradley also took the #3 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Bradley is $28,169 for illinois bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $75-$110k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Bradley University Design & Applied Arts Report

#12

North Central College

Naperville, Illinois

North Central College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #12. Naperville, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s design degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.

North Central not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend North Central College is $25,778 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $75-$110k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.9% 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%.

Full North Central College Design & Applied Arts Report

Trinity International University - Illinois did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #13. This small school is located in Deerfield, Illinois, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

TIU Illinois also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #17. The estimated yearly cost for TIU Illinois is $23,684 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $75-$110k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at TIU Illinois

#14

Roosevelt University

Chicago, Illinois
#18 in overall quality

Roosevelt University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Roosevelt is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $75-$110k list, Roosevelt has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Roosevelt University is $23,695 for illinois bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $75-$110k.

Full Roosevelt Design & Applied Arts Report

#15

Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Columbia College Chicago ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k list. Columbia College Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 272 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

Columbia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Columbia College Chicago is $33,864 for illinois bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Columbia College Chicago

#16

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 85 degrees to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at DePaul, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for DePaul University is $30,877 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $75-$110k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at DePaul University

#17

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k list. Loyola University Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 12 bachelors’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $75-$110k list, Loyola Chicago has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Loyola University Chicago is $36,700 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Design students whose families make $75-$110k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Full Loyola University Chicago Design & Applied Arts Report

#18

American Academy of Art

Chicago, Illinois

American Academy of Art ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $75-$110k list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 27 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2019-2020.

The Academy also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #16. The yearly cost to attend The Academy is $32,536 for illinois bachelor’s degree design students whose families make $75-$110k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at American Academy of Art

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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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