2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 87 schools to find the best return on investment for design & applied arts students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the design & applied arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
Joliet Junior College tops our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,530 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Students borrow a median of $11,995 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $40,118. Set against $11,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuyahoga Community College District is a great value for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,249 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,249. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,795 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $22,517. That is a strong return on a $11,795 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Lorain County Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Elyria, Lorain County Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,265, while out-of-state students pay about $8,860. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $17,611 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Lorain County Community College generally make around $40,095. That is a strong return on a $17,611 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Elgin Community College earned it the #4 place for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,252, while out-of-state students pay about $9,516. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $43,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Sinclair Community College earned it the #5 place for design & applied arts. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. Students from in state pay about $3,675 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $24,490. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Dupage came in at #6 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Students borrow a median of $11,077 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $31,798 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lincoln Land Community College earned the #7 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the rural area of Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,744, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,272 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Lincoln Land Community College generally make around $43,834. That is a strong return on a $11,272 median debt.
Muskegon Community College earned the #8 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Muskegon Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Muskegon. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,250, with out-of-state students paying around $16,010. Students borrow a median of $14,928 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $48,267. That is a strong return on a $14,928 median debt.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College came in at #9 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,517 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,044 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,730 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earn a median of $47,975 early in their careers. Set against $17,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mchenry County College earned the #10 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,162, compared with $14,399 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $7,440 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Mchenry County College generally make around $24,177. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Henry Ford Community College came in at #11 for value in design & applied arts this year. Henry Ford Community College is a large public school located in the city of Dearborn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,568, compared with $7,816 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $19,075 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Henry Ford Community College generally make around $19,911. Set against $19,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Columbus State Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,488 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,224 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,041 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Median earnings reach $39,435 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Stark State College placed #13 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,790, while out-of-state students pay about $7,886. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $17,349. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $42,724. That is a strong return on a $17,349 median debt.
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #14 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $34,377. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
Ivy Tech Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $12,710. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $26,602 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,710 median debt.
Ferris State University placed #16 among the best values for design & applied arts. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,778. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $27,000. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $34,045. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Southwestern Michigan College landed the #17 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the rural area of Dowagiac, Southwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,417, compared with $8,394 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,575 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Southwestern Michigan College generally make around $43,153. That is a strong return on a $16,575 median debt.
Milwaukee Area Technical College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,184, while out-of-state students pay about $7,427. Students borrow a median of $18,296 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Milwaukee Area Technical College generally make around $27,795. That is a strong return on a $18,296 median debt.
Lakeland Community College placed #19 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the suburb of Kirtland, Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,872, with out-of-state students paying around $9,235. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $19,857 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Lakeland Community College earn a median of $51,941 early in their careers. Set against $19,857 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fox Valley Technical College earned the #20 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,040 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,283 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $16,582 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $32,673 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,582 median debt.
Waukesha County Technical College earned the #21 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Waukesha County Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Pewaukee. In-state tuition and fees average $4,803, compared with $7,046 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $15,554 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Waukesha County Technical College earn a median of $39,095 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,554 median debt.
Western Technical College La Cross earned the #22 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College La Cross is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,820, with out-of-state students paying around $7,078. Students borrow a median of $12,057 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Western Technical College La Cross earn a median of $23,032 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harper College earned the #23 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,894 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,874. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $10,963. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Harper College earn a median of $44,523 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oakland University landed the #24 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,954 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $30,687 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,954 median debt. Oakland University admits about 88% of applicants.
Moraine Park Technical College earned the #25 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Fond du Lac, Moraine Park Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,819 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,084. Students borrow a median of $11,471 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Moraine Park Technical College generally make around $21,388. That is a strong return on a $11,471 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s design & applied arts value ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 87 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 87 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
