College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2027 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region

87 Colleges in the United States
4,731 Design & Applied Arts Degrees Awarded
$37,856 Avg Early-Career Salary

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

1

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

2

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

3
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

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

4

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

5

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

6

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

7

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

8

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

9
Xavier University crest
Xavier University
Cincinnati, OH

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

10

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

11

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

12

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

13

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

14

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

15

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

16
Carroll University crest
Carroll University
Waukesha, WI

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

17
College Of Dupage crest
College Of Dupage
Glen Ellyn, IL

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

18

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

19
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

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

20

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

21
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

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

22

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

23

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

24
Aurora University crest
Aurora University
Aurora, IL

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

25

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:

26
27
28
Harper College crest
Harper College
Palatine, IL
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
Taylor University crest
Taylor University
Upland, IN
36
37
38
39
40
Cedarville University crest
Cedarville University
Cedarville, OH
41
42
Central Michigan University crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI
43
44
Elmhurst College crest
Elmhurst College
Elmhurst, IL
45
46
47
Adrian College crest
Adrian College
Adrian, MI
48
49
North Central College crest
North Central College
Naperville, IL
50

Narrow Design & Applied Arts Schools by State

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.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options