2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Wisconsin
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value design & applied arts schools.
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2027 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Wisconsin
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
Our analysis ranked Milwaukee Area Technical College the best value for a degree in design & applied arts in Wisconsin. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. Students from in state pay about $5,184 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,427. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $18,296 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $27,795. Set against $18,296 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Moraine Park Technical College earned it the #2 place for design & applied arts. Moraine Park Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fond du Lac. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,819, with out-of-state students paying around $7,084. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,471 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Moraine Park Technical College earn a median of $21,388 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Technical College La Cross came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Western Technical College La Cross is a large public school located in the city of La Crosse. In-state tuition and fees average $4,820, while out-of-state students pay about $7,078. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $12,057. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $23,032. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,960, with out-of-state students paying around $7,203. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $14,997 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College generally make around $42,016. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Waukesha County Technical College one of the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,803, while out-of-state students pay about $7,046. Students borrow a median of $15,554 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Waukesha County Technical College generally make around $39,095. Set against $15,554 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fox Valley Technical College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, compared with $7,283 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,582 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $32,673. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chippewa Valley Technical College earned the #7 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,844, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $14,234 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Chippewa Valley Technical College generally make around $45,531. Set against $14,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gateway Technical College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,956 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,199. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $15,500. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Gateway Technical College generally make around $29,734. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Madison Area Technical College placed #9 among the best values for design & applied arts. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,977, compared with $7,141 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $15,750 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $30,710. That is a strong return on a $15,750 median debt.
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay came in at #10 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,700, compared with $17,288 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $18,186 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Wisconsin Green Bay earn a median of $32,991 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,186 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earned the #11 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,228, compared with $18,248 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,684 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $41,243. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #12 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $20,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $49,780. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Carroll University came in at #13 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Waukesha, Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,890. Students borrow a median of $26,904 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Carroll University earn a median of $52,404 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,904 median debt. The acceptance rate is 67%.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee placed #14 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,398, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $26,657 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of $46,561 early in their careers. Set against $26,657 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Stout ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,701, compared with $19,265 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stout generally make around $40,615. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Stout admits about 88% of applicants.
Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design landed the #16 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,743. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design generally make around $28,801. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design admits about 60% of applicants.
Carthage College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Carthage College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kenosha. In-state tuition and fees average $38,750. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Carthage College earn a median of $35,511 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
