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2027 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Illinois

20 Colleges in the United States
911 Design & Applied Arts Degrees Awarded
$39,530 Avg Early-Career Salary

Design & Applied Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their design & applied arts programs.

To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools to find the best for design & applied arts students.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in Illinois

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the design & applied arts degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Design & Applied Arts

1

Our analysis ranked University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign the best school in the country for a degree in design & applied arts. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 60 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $34,670 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,839. Get the full design & applied arts details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

2

Illinois State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in design & applied arts, ranking #2. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 32 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent 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. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Illinois State University

3

Loyola University Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 17 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,521. Get the full design & applied arts details for Loyola University Chicago

4
College Of Dupage crest
College Of Dupage
Glen Ellyn, IL

Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at College Of Dupage, which ranked #4. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. About 75 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at College Of Dupage in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $31,798 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,077 to complete this degree. See the full design & applied arts program report for College Of Dupage

5

A rank of #5 makes University Of Illinois At Chicago one of the top schools for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 83 design & applied arts degrees 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. Typical student debt for the program is $25,750. Get the full design & applied arts details for University Of Illinois At Chicago

6

Benedictine University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Lisle. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Benedictine University awarded about 11 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $54,212 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,338. Read more about the design & applied arts program at Benedictine University

7
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University landed the #7 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Depaul University awarded about 39 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $30,536 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full design & applied arts program report for Depaul University

8
Aurora University crest
Aurora University
Aurora, IL

Aurora University came in at #8 for design & applied arts this year. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Aurora University awarded about 17 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Aurora University earn around $51,483 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,507 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Aurora University

9
Harper College crest
Harper College
Palatine, IL

Harper College placed #9 among the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. Harper College awarded about 54 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $44,523. Harper College graduates carry a median of $10,963 in student loans. Read more about the design & applied arts program at Harper College

10

Northeastern Illinois University landed the #10 spot for design & applied arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Chicago. About 22% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $49,254 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,600 to complete this degree. Read more about the design & applied arts program at Northeastern Illinois University

11

Elgin Community College earned the #11 position for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public university. About 23 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Elgin Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Elgin Community College earn around $43,975 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Elgin Community College

12
Elmhurst College crest
Elmhurst College
Elmhurst, IL

Elmhurst College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Elmhurst College graduates 70% of students within six years. About 28 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Elmhurst College in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $51,232 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,400. See the full design & applied arts program report for Elmhurst College

13
North Central College crest
North Central College
Naperville, IL

North Central College came in at #13 for design & applied arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Naperville. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at North Central College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from North Central College generally make around $28,037. North Central College graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Get the full design & applied arts details for North Central College

14

Joliet Junior College landed the #14 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. Joliet Junior College awarded about 36 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Joliet Junior College earn around $40,118 in the first couple years of their career. Joliet Junior College graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Joliet Junior College

15

Columbia College Chicago earned the #15 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Columbia College Chicago graduates 52% of students within six years. About 300 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Columbia College Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Columbia College Chicago earn around $29,630 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full design & applied arts program report for Columbia College Chicago

16
Mchenry County College crest
Mchenry County College
Crystal Lake, IL

Mchenry County College earned the #16 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public institution. There were roughly 27 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Mchenry County College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Mchenry County College generally make around $24,177. Typical student debt for the program is $7,440. Get the full design & applied arts details for Mchenry County College

17

Augustana College Illinois landed the #17 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Augustana College Illinois graduates 73% of students within six years. Augustana College Illinois awarded about 13 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Augustana College Illinois earn around $39,096 in the first couple years of their career. Augustana College Illinois graduates carry a median of $26,764 in student loans. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Augustana College Illinois

18

Lincoln Land Community College earned the #18 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the rural area of Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 14 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Lincoln Land Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Lincoln Land Community College earn around $43,834 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,272 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Lincoln Land Community College

19

Rend Lake College landed the #19 spot for design & applied arts this year. Located in the rural area of Ina, Rend Lake College is a mid-sized public university. About 26 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Rend Lake College in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Rend Lake College earn a median of $42,770 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $8,688 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Rend Lake College

20

Roosevelt University came in at #20 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 46% of students finish within six years. About 13 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Roosevelt University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Roosevelt University generally make around $19,028. Roosevelt University graduates carry a median of $20,417 in student loans. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Roosevelt University

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 · 20 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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