2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Illinois
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools to find the best return on investment for design & applied arts students.
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2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Illinois
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 Illinois. 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. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $40,118. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lincoln Land Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,744, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,272 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Lincoln Land Community College earn a median of $43,834 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in design & applied arts will find it at Elgin Community College, which ranked #3. 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. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of $43,975 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of Dupage earned it the #4 place for design & applied arts. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $12,750. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $11,077. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $31,798. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mchenry County College earned it the #5 place for design & applied arts. Located in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,162 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,399 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $7,440. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $24,177. Set against $7,440 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #6 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $34,377 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,750 median debt. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
Harper College earned the #7 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,894, compared with $11,874 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $44,523. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rend Lake College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the rural area of Ina, Rend Lake College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,500, while out-of-state students pay about $7,800. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $8,688 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Rend Lake College generally make around $42,770. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #9 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,839 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $34,670. That is a strong return on a $18,839 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Northeastern Illinois University placed #10 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,383, with out-of-state students paying around $22,726. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $17,600 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University generally make around $49,254. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Aurora University earned the #11 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,170. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $24,507. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Aurora University earn a median of $51,483 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Illinois State University placed #12 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $24,986 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $39,287. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Roosevelt University earned the #13 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,315. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $20,417 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Roosevelt University generally make around $19,028. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
North Central College came in at #14 for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Naperville, North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $45,726 in tuition and fees. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $28,037. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Benedictine University came in at #15 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,648. Students borrow a median of $25,338 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Benedictine University generally make around $54,212. Set against $25,338 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Augustana College Illinois ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rock Island. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,598. Students borrow a median of $26,764 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Augustana College Illinois earn a median of $39,096 early in their careers. Set against $26,764 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Elmhurst College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elmhurst. In-state tuition and fees average $42,955. Students borrow a median of $22,400 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $51,232. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Columbia College Chicago landed the #18 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,088 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $29,630. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Depaul University landed the #19 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $30,536. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Loyola University Chicago landed the #20 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,710. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Set against $23,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
