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2027 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Wisconsin

17 Colleges in the United States
897 Design & Applied Arts Degrees Awarded
$36,464 Avg Early-Career Salary

Design & Applied Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best design & applied arts schools.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in Wisconsin

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

No school ranked higher than University Of Wisconsin Madison this year for design & applied arts. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. 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. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $49,780 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $20,875 in student loans. Get the full design & applied arts details for University Of Wisconsin Madison

2

Madison Area Technical College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a large public university. Madison Area Technical College awarded about 62 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Madison Area Technical College generally make around $30,710. Typical student debt for the program is $15,750. Read more about the design & applied arts program at Madison Area Technical College

3
Carroll University crest
Carroll University
Waukesha, WI

A rank of #3 makes Carroll University one of the top schools for design & applied arts. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Waukesha. About 71% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Carroll University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $52,404 in their early career. Carroll University graduates carry a median of $26,904 in student loans. Get the full design & applied arts details for Carroll University

4

Fox Valley Technical College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Fox Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton. There were roughly 25 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Fox Valley Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $32,673 in their early career. Fox Valley Technical College graduates carry a median of $16,582 in student loans. See the full design & applied arts program report for Fox Valley Technical College

5

University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in design & applied arts, ranking #5. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Stevens Point. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point graduates 56% of students within six years. There were roughly 44 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earn a median of $41,243 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,684 to complete this degree. Read more about the design & applied arts program at University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point

6

University Of Wisconsin Stout placed #6 among the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin Stout awarded about 174 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stout earn a median of $40,615 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from University Of Wisconsin Stout

7

Chippewa Valley Technical College earned the #7 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public institution. About 23 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Chippewa Valley Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Chippewa Valley Technical College generally make around $45,531. Typical student debt for the program is $14,234. See the full design & applied arts program report for Chippewa Valley Technical College

8

Waukesha County Technical College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public institution. Waukesha County Technical College awarded about 54 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Waukesha County Technical College earn a median of $39,095 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,554 to complete this degree. Read more about the design & applied arts program at Waukesha County Technical College

9

University Of Wisconsin Green Bay placed #9 among the best design & applied arts schools. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay awarded about 27 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of Wisconsin Green Bay earn around $32,991 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,186. Read more about the design & applied arts program at University Of Wisconsin Green Bay

10

Western Technical College La Cross landed the #10 spot for design & applied arts this year. Western Technical College La Cross is a large public school located in the city of La Crosse. About 52 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Western Technical College La Cross in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Western Technical College La Cross earn around $23,032 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,057. Get the full design & applied arts details for Western Technical College La Cross

11

Gateway Technical College landed the #11 spot for design & applied arts this year. Gateway Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Kenosha. Gateway Technical College awarded about 30 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Gateway Technical College earn around $29,734 in the first couple years of their career. Gateway Technical College graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. Get the full design & applied arts details for Gateway Technical College

12

University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned the #12 position for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Milwaukee. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 31 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $46,561 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee graduates carry a median of $26,657 in student loans. Read more about the design & applied arts program at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee

13
Carthage College crest
Carthage College
Kenosha, WI

Carthage College came in at #13 for design & applied arts this year. Carthage College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kenosha. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Carthage College in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Carthage College earn a median of $35,511 early in their careers. Carthage College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full design & applied arts details for Carthage College

14

Milwaukee Area Technical College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public university. About 56 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Milwaukee Area Technical College in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Milwaukee Area Technical College earn a median of $27,795 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,296 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Milwaukee Area Technical College

15

Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design placed #15 among the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit university. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 127 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $28,801 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the design & applied arts program at Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design

16

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College landed the #16 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public institution. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College awarded about 13 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College earn a median of $42,016 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,997. Read more about the design & applied arts program at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College

17

Moraine Park Technical College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Fond du Lac, Moraine Park Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 16 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Moraine Park Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Moraine Park Technical College earn around $21,388 in the first couple years of their career. Moraine Park Technical College graduates carry a median of $11,471 in student loans. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Moraine Park Technical College

View All Design & Applied Arts Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 17 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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