2027 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Design & Applied Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 87 schools to find the best for design & applied arts students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall design & applied arts education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Design & Applied Arts
University Of Wisconsin Madison is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in design & applied arts. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. About 90% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 140 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $49,780 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,875 to complete this degree.
Get the full design & applied arts details for University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Notre Dame is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of Notre Dame earn around $46,825 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,250.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at University Of Notre Dame
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 110 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $44,602 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Purdue University Main Campus
Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at Ohio State University Main Campus, which ranked #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 51 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $45,176 in their early career. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,100 in student loans.
Get the full design & applied arts details for Ohio State University Main Campus
Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at University Of Dayton, which ranked #5. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Dayton. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Dayton awarded about 29 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of Dayton earn around $43,609 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for University Of Dayton
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #6 spot for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 142 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $52,526 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,851.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 60 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $34,670. Students borrow a median of $18,839 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Illinois State University came in at #8 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. Illinois State University awarded about 32 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $39,287 in their early career. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $24,986 in student loans.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Illinois State University
Xavier University earned the #9 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Xavier University awarded about 12 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $55,045 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,614.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Xavier University
Miami University Oxford landed the #10 spot for design & applied arts this year. Miami University Oxford is a very large public school located in the town of Oxford. Miami University Oxford graduates 80% of students within six years. Miami University Oxford awarded about 20 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $47,295. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Miami University Oxford
Indiana University Bloomington landed the #11 spot for design & applied arts this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 73 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $26,421 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,064.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Indiana University Bloomington
Loyola University Chicago landed the #12 spot for design & applied arts this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $58,568. Typical student debt for the program is $23,521.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Loyola University Chicago
Madison Area Technical College came in at #13 for design & applied arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Madison. About 62 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Madison Area Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $30,710 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,750.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Madison Area Technical College
Lawrence Technological University landed the #14 spot for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Southfield, Lawrence Technological University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 36 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Lawrence Technological University in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Lawrence Technological University earn a median of $74,924 early in their careers. Lawrence Technological University graduates carry a median of $27,799 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Lawrence Technological University
Kent State University At Kent placed #15 among the best design & applied arts schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kent. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Kent State University At Kent awarded about 265 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $36,351 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Kent State University At Kent
Carroll University earned the #16 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Waukesha, Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. Carroll University awarded about 10 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Carroll University generally make around $52,404. Carroll University graduates carry a median of $26,904 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Carroll University
College Of Dupage ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. About 75 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at College Of Dupage in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from College Of Dupage earn around $31,798 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,077 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from College Of Dupage
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #18 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 83 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $34,377. Students borrow a median of $25,750 to complete this degree.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at University Of Illinois At Chicago
Michigan State University landed the #19 spot for design & applied arts this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. Michigan State University awarded about 196 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Michigan State University earn around $36,784 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,175.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Michigan State University
Benedictine University earned the #20 position for design & applied arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Lisle. About 50% of students finish within six years. Benedictine University awarded about 11 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Benedictine University generally make around $54,212. Benedictine University graduates carry a median of $25,338 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Benedictine University
Depaul University came in at #21 for design & applied arts this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 39 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $30,536 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Depaul University
Western Michigan University earned the #22 position for design & applied arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Kalamazoo. About 58% of students finish within six years. Western Michigan University awarded about 49 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $39,077 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Western Michigan University
Ball State University came in at #23 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. About 50 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Ball State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $36,864. Ball State University graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Ball State University
Aurora University earned the #24 position for design & applied arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Aurora. Aurora University graduates 60% of students within six years. About 17 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Aurora University in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Aurora University earn around $51,483 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,507.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Aurora University
University Of Toledo ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Toledo in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $52,675 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,923.
See the full design & applied arts program report for University Of Toledo
Rest of the Top 50 Design & Applied Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s design & applied arts ranking:
Narrow Design & Applied Arts Schools by State
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
View All Design & Applied Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 87 schools evaluated.
- 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.