2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid
73
Ranked Colleges
5,375
Degrees Awarded
$12,300
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2020-2021, 36,301 people earned their degree in design and applied arts, making the major the 36th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, design and applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,426 and had an average of $25,481 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 5,375 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,734 and $25,957 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 73 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in design and applied arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality design and applied arts programs that also have a lower cost than 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 picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)
Out of the 73 schools in the Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Madison Area Technical College landed the #1 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 94 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Madison College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Madison College is $10,053 for Great Lakes Region Design students with aid.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Madison Area Technical College
Out of the 73 schools in the Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Sinclair Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. Sinclair Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Dayton, Ohio. It awarded 153 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $4,959 for great lakes region design students with aid per year to attend Sinclair Community College.
Full Sinclair Community College Design & Applied Arts Report
Out of the 73 schools in the Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. Purdue University - Main Campus is a large school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 63 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Purdue also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $13,377 for great lakes region design students with aid per year to attend Purdue University - Main Campus.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Purdue
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 105 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,321 for Great Lakes Region Design students with aid per year to attend UIUC.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
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 Milwaukee Area Technical College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 29 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,721 for Great Lakes Region Design students with aid per year to attend MATC.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Milwaukee Area Technical College
Ivy Tech Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Ivy Tech Community College is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 190 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Ivy Tech Community College is $7,669 for great lakes region design students with aid.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Ivy Tech Community College
Cuyahoga Community College District did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. Cleveland, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 76 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Cuyahoga Community College District is $4,909 for great lakes region design students with aid.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Cuyahoga Community College District
Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 38 students in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington also took the #15 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Bloomington is $14,619 for Great Lakes Region Design students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Indiana University - Bloomington
University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 83 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Chicago is $13,214 for great lakes region design students with aid.
The low undergrad 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%.
Full UIC Design & Applied Arts Report
University of Wisconsin - Stout landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Wisconsin - Stout is a medium-sized public school situated in Menomonie, Wisconsin. It awarded 135 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Stout not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UW - Stout is $15,589 for Great Lakes Region Design students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UW - Stout Design & Applied Arts Report
University of Wisconsin - Madison came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 68 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $17,234 for great lakes region design students with aid per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison.
With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of Wisconsin - Madison
With a ranking of #12, Gateway Technical College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 54 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,487 for great lakes region design students with aid per year to attend Gateway Technical College.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Gateway Technical College Design & Applied Arts Report
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. UC is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 253 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $22,415 for great lakes region design students with aid per year to attend UC.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus
Michigan State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 97 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region design students with aid list, Michigan State has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $19,058 for Great Lakes Region Design students with aid per year to attend Michigan State.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Michigan State Design & Applied Arts Report
Kalamazoo Valley Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. Kalamazoo, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 14 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $4,525 for great lakes region design students with aid per year to attend Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
Full Kalamazoo Valley Community College Design & Applied Arts Report
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. IUPUI is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 31 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $12,416 for Great Lakes Region Design students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
Ferris State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Ferris is a public institution located in Big Rapids, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 112 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region design students with aid list, Ferris has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ferris is $12,213 for Great Lakes Region Design students with aid.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Ferris
Macomb Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Warren, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 73 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Macomb Community College is $9,982 for great lakes region design students with aid.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Macomb Community College
Western Technical College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. La Crosse, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 28 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Western Technical College is $10,279 for Great Lakes Region Design students with aid.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full Western Technical College Design & Applied Arts Report
Ball State University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Muncie, Indiana, this large public school handed out 39 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
Ball State also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #21. The yearly cost to attend Ball State is $14,765 for Great Lakes Region Design students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Ball State University
Waukesha County Technical College landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Waukesha County Technical College is located in Pewaukee, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 37 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Waukesha County Technical College is $9,749 for Great Lakes Region Design students with aid.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at WCTC
Oakland University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Rochester Hills, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 58 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,449 for great lakes region design students with aid per year to attend Oakland.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Oakland Design & Applied Arts Report
Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #23. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 47 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region design students with aid list, Ohio State has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus is $16,845 for Great Lakes Region Design students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Ohio State University - Main Campus
Central Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #24. Central Michigan is a fairly large school located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan that handed out 69 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Central Michigan University is $16,007 for great lakes region design students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Central Michigan
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 27 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $13,346 for great lakes region design students with aid.
Full UW - Stevens Point Design & Applied Arts Report
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