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2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region

198 Ranked Colleges
5,375 Degrees Awarded
$29,300 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Design & Applied Arts is the 36th most popular major in the country with 36,301 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. 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 “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking looked at 198 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in design and applied arts. That schools that top this list have a program in design and applied arts in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Great Lakes Region

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The Modern College of Design. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region. Located in Kettering, Ohio, this small private for-profit school awarded 70 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at The Modern College of Design

2
The Academy crest
American Academy of Art
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend American Academy of Art. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region. The Academy is a private for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 25 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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 American Academy of Art Design & Applied Arts Report

3

Out of the 198 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design landed the #3 spot on the list. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 106 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend College for Creative Studies. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region. College for Creative Studies is a private not-for-profit institution located in Detroit, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 165 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at CCS

5
The North Coast College crest
The North Coast College
Lakewood, Ohio

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The North Coast College. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region. The North Coast College is a private for-profit institution located in Lakewood, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at The North Coast College

6

Columbus College of Art and Design landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 119 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at CCAD

7
AAC crest
Art Academy of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio

Art Academy of Cincinnati landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. AAC is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at AAC

8

Cleveland Institute of Art ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Cleveland Institute of Art is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Cleveland, Ohio. It awarded 66 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Cleveland Institute of Art

9
Carnbrook Academy crest
Cranbrook Academy of Art
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Cranbrook Academy of Art came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 16 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% 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%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Carnbrook Academy

10
Columbia crest
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Columbia College Chicago ranked #10 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Columbia is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 271 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Columbia College Chicago

11

International Business College - Indianapolis ranked #11 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and it awarded 13 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at International Business College - Indianapolis

12
UW - Stout crest
University of Wisconsin - Stout
Menomonie, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Stout ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Menomonie, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 135 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of Wisconsin - Stout

13
Cedarville crest
Cedarville University
Cedarville, Ohio

Cedarville University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cedarville, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 49 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 more about Design & Applied Arts at Cedarville

14
Adrian crest
Adrian College
Adrian, Michigan

Adrian College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #14. Adrian is located in Adrian, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 22 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Adrian

15
Mount Mary crest
Mount Mary University
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #15, Mount Mary University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 15 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Mount Mary

16
Defiance College crest
Defiance College
Defiance, Ohio

Defiance College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Defiance College is a small school located in Defiance, Ohio that handed out 4 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Defiance College

17
Davis College crest
Davis College
Toledo, Ohio

Davis College ranked #17 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Toledo, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 1 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 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 Davis College

18
Taylor U crest
Taylor University
Upland, Indiana

Taylor University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Upland, Indiana, and it awarded 17 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Taylor University Design & Applied Arts Report

19
Eureka College crest
Eureka College
Eureka, Illinois

Eureka College landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Eureka, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 5 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.

Full Eureka College Design & Applied Arts Report

20

With a ranking of #20, Kent State University at Kent did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Kent State University at Kent is a public institution located in Kent, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 238 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Kent State University at Kent Design & Applied Arts Report

21
SMC crest
Southwestern Michigan College
Dowagiac, Michigan

Southwestern Michigan College landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Dowagiac, Michigan, and it awarded 9 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at SMC

22

University of Cincinnati - Blue Ash College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #22. University of Cincinnati - Blue Ash College is a medium-sized public school situated in Blue Ash, Ohio. It awarded 33 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at University of Cincinnati - Blue Ash College

23
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #23. This fairly large school is located in Big Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 112 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Ferris State University

24

Grace College and Theological Seminary did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #24. Winona Lake, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 18 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 Grace College Design & Applied Arts Report

25
Northland crest
Northland College
Ashland, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #25, Northland College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Ashland, Wisconsin, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 4 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Northland

Rest of the Best 30 in Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Great Lakes Region

Not only did these schools make the top 30 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
Macomb Community College crest
Macomb Community College
Warren, Michigan
28
Bradley crest
Bradley University
Peoria, Illinois
29
Quincy U crest
Quincy University
Quincy, Illinois
30
Western Technical College crest
Western Technical College
La Crosse, Wisconsin

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Notes and References

References

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