2027 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Michigan
Design & Applied Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their design & applied arts programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools to find the best for design & applied arts students.
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Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in Michigan
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall design & applied arts education in Michigan.
Top Schools in Design & Applied Arts
Our analysis ranked Lawrence Technological University the best school in the country for a degree in design & applied arts. Set in the city of Southfield, Lawrence Technological University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 36 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Lawrence Technological University in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Lawrence Technological University earn a median of $74,924 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,799.
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Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at Michigan State University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Michigan State University graduates 81% of students within six years. There were roughly 196 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University 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. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $28,175 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Michigan State University
Western Michigan University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 49 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Western Michigan University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Western Michigan University earn around $39,077 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Western Michigan University
College For Creative Studies is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in design & applied arts, ranking #4. Set in the city of Detroit, College For Creative Studies is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. College For Creative Studies awarded about 75 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $32,665 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from College For Creative Studies
Central Michigan University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in design & applied arts, ranking #5. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. Central Michigan University graduates 59% of students within six years. There were roughly 53 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Central Michigan University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Central Michigan University generally make around $36,917. Students borrow a median of $28,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Central Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University landed the #6 spot for design & applied arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. About 46% of students finish within six years. About 47 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Eastern Michigan University in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $38,443 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,781.
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Adrian College earned the #7 position for design & applied arts this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Adrian. Adrian College graduates 45% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Adrian College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Adrian College earn around $43,444 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $28,071 to complete this degree.
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Cornerstone University landed the #8 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Cornerstone University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Cornerstone University in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Cornerstone University earn around $44,501 in the first couple years of their career. Cornerstone University graduates carry a median of $29,243 in student loans.
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Ferris State University earned the #9 position for design & applied arts this year. This large public university is located in the town of Big Rapids. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. Ferris State University awarded about 74 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Ferris State University earn around $34,045 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Saginaw Valley State University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of University Center, Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. Saginaw Valley State University awarded about 33 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $27,577 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,125 to complete this degree.
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Oakland University landed the #11 spot for design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Oakland University awarded about 67 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $30,687. Students borrow a median of $27,954 to complete this degree.
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Muskegon Community College landed the #12 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Muskegon, Muskegon Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Muskegon Community College awarded about 19 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Muskegon Community College generally make around $48,267. Muskegon Community College graduates carry a median of $14,928 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Muskegon Community College
Southwestern Michigan College earned the #13 position for design & applied arts this year. Southwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Dowagiac. About 10 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Southwestern Michigan College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Southwestern Michigan College generally make around $43,153. Southwestern Michigan College graduates carry a median of $16,575 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Southwestern Michigan College
Henry Ford Community College placed #14 among the best design & applied arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Dearborn. Henry Ford Community College awarded about 13 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Henry Ford Community College generally make around $19,911. Typical student debt for the program is $19,075.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Henry Ford Community College
University Of Michigan Flint placed #15 among the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Flint, University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public institution. About 40% of students finish within six years. About 13 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Flint in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $18,339 in their early career. University Of Michigan Flint graduates carry a median of $30,695 in student loans.
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More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 15 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.