2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region” 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 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” ranking, we looked at 31 colleges that offer 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.
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.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region.
Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Madison Area Technical College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Madison College is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 102 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Madison College also took the #1 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Madison Area Technical College is $9,904 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Fox Valley Technical College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region. Located in Appleton, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school handed out 45 diplomas to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.
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. The estimated yearly cost for FVTC is $11,127 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students.
Out of the 31 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Western Technical College landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, this small public school awarded 42 diplomas to qualified associates’s design students 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 estimated yearly cost for Western Technical College is $10,081 for great lakes region associate degree design students.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Out of the 31 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Moraine Park Technical College landed the #4 spot on the list. Moraine Park Technical College is a small school located in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin that handed out 21 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
Moraine Park Technical College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Moraine Park Technical College is $9,143 for great lakes region associate degree design students.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Moraine Park Technical College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Waukesha County Technical College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region. Pewaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.
WCTC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Waukesha County Technical College is $10,165 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students.
Full Waukesha County Technical College Design & Applied Arts Report
Macomb Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #6. Macomb Community College is a public institution located in Warren, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 47 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Macomb Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Macomb Community College is $8,724 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Macomb Community College
With a ranking of #7, Sinclair Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Dayton, Ohio, this fairly large public school handed out 67 diplomas to qualified associates’s design students 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 estimated yearly cost for Sinclair Community College is $4,208 for great lakes region associate degree design students.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Sinclair Community College
Oakland Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Oakland Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. It awarded 30 associates’s design 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. It costs about $2,825 for great lakes region associate degree design students per year to attend Oakland Community College.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Oakland Community College
Gateway Technical College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and it awarded 33 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
Gateway Technical College also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $9,252 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students per year to attend Gateway Technical College.
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 Gateway Technical College
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ivy Tech Community College is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 118 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.
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 $6,919 for great lakes region associate degree design students per year to attend Ivy Tech Community College.
Full Ivy Tech Community College Design & Applied Arts Report
Milwaukee Area Technical College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at MATC, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $9,076 for great lakes region associate degree design students per year to attend MATC.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Milwaukee Area Technical College
Cuyahoga Community College District came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. 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.
Cuyahoga Community College District also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for Cuyahoga Community College District is $5,415 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students.
Full Cuyahoga Community College District Design & Applied Arts Report
Elgin Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Elgin Community College is located in Elgin, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.
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. The estimated yearly cost for ECC is $4,185 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #14. Kalamazoo, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #17. The estimated yearly cost for Kalamazoo Valley Community College is $4,802 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Washtenaw Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #15. 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.
Washtenaw Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Washtenaw Community College is $2,441 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Washtenaw Community College
Henry Ford College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Dearborn, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 19 degrees to qualified associates’s design students 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 $3,182 for great lakes region associate degree design students.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Henry Ford College
Ferris State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Big Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 1 associates’s design 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 $12,889 for great lakes region associate degree design students.
University of Cincinnati - Blue Ash College landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Blue Ash, Ohio, this medium-sized public school handed out 14 diplomas to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.
UC Blue Ash College also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for UC Blue Ash College is $13,430 for great lakes region associate degree design students.
Owens Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #19. Owens Community College is a public institution located in Perrysburg, Ohio. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 21 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree design students list, Owens State Community College has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Owens Community College is $8,323 for great lakes region associate degree design students.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Owens State Community College
Lansing Community College landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. LCC is a fairly large school located in Lansing, Michigan that handed out 9 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
LCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $4,828 for great lakes region associate degree design students per year to attend Lansing Community College.
With a ranking of #21, Mid Michigan College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Harrison, Michigan, and it awarded 7 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $8,199 for great lakes region associate degree design students per year to attend Mid Michigan College.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Mid Michigan College
Vincennes University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #22. This fairly large school is located in Vincennes, Indiana, and it awarded 14 associates’s design degrees 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 $10,845 for great lakes region associate degree design students per year to attend Vincennes University.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Vincennes University
Grand Rapids Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 1 associates’s design degrees 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 $8,684 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Grand Rapids Community College
Rasmussen University - Wisconsin came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Rasmussen University - Wisconsin is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $19,917 for great lakes region associate degree design students per year to attend Rasmussen University - Wisconsin.
Full Rasmussen University - Wisconsin Design & Applied Arts Report
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school awarded 9 degrees to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.
IUPUI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $11,285 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Design students per year to attend IUPUI.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
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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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