2023 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor's Degree School for You
Out of all the majors we analyze each year, design and applied arts was ranked #36 in the country. In fact 36,301 degrees and certificates were handed out in 2020-2021.
With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
The Best Value Design & Applied Arts Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 65 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which bachelor's degree programs offered the best value experiences for design students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Featured Design Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts
Translate your creative ideas through concept, design and digital media with a bachelor's in graphic design online from Southern New Hampshire University.
Top 10 Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor's Degree Schools
Our analysis found Franklin University to be the best value school for design and applied arts students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the Great Lakes Region . Franklin University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbus.
Franklin University undergraduate students pay an average of $9,577 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that design majors at Franklin University take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $40,496.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Franklin University
Request Information
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at University of Wisconsin - Stout helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value design and applied arts schools in the Great Lakes Region . UW - Stout is a medium-sized public school located in the distant town of Menomonie.
UW - Stout undergraduate students pay an average of $17,820 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their Bachelor's Degree, design majors at UW - Stout accumulate an average of around $24,522 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $131, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
UW - Stout excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
Request Information
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Central Michigan University. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Central Michigan is a fairly large public school located in the distant town of Mount Pleasant.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Central Michigan are $13,094 a year. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $296, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Request Information
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Ferris State University is a great value for design and applied arts students working on their bachelor’s degree. Ferris is a large public school located in the distant town of Big Rapids.
Ferris undergraduate students pay an average of $13,188 in tuition and fees each year. Design majors at Ferris take out an average of $28,599 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $235.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Ferris State University Report
Request Information
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at University of Akron Main Campus helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value design and applied arts schools in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the medium-sized city of Akron, University of Akron Main Campus is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at University of Akron Main Campus are $11,880 a year.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of Akron Main Campus
Request Information
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design & Applied Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW - Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public school located in the distant town of Stevens Point.
UW - Stevens Point undergraduate students pay an average of $17,035 in tuition and fees each year.
Full Design & Applied Arts at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Report
Request Information
With a ranking of #7, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on this year’s best value schools for design and applied arts students working on their bachelor’s degree. SIUC is a fairly large public school located in the city of Carbondale.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SIUC are $15,240 per year.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Southern Illinois University Carbondale Report
Request Information
Eastern Michigan University landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree design and applied arts programs. Eastern Michigan is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Eastern Michigan are $15,500 per year. The average amount in student loans that design majors at Eastern Michigan take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $34,212.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Eastern Michigan University Report
Request Information
Western Michigan University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree design and applied arts programs. WMU is a large public school located in the small city of Kalamazoo.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at WMU are $16,768 a year.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Western Michigan University Report
Request Information
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree design and applied arts programs. UW - Green Bay is a medium-sized public school located in the medium-sized city of Green Bay.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - Green Bay are $16,091 per year. Design majors at UW - Green Bay take out an average of $23,633 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Request InformationAdditional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great value schools for Design & Applied Arts students in the Great Lakes Region seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Design & Applied Arts Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Illinois State University | Normal, IL |
| 12 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus | Cincinnati, OH |
| 13 | Purdue University - Main Campus | West Lafayette, IN |
Best Design & Applied Arts Colleges by State
Explore the best design and applied arts schools for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Michigan | 1,011 |
| Ohio | 1,456 |
| Illinois | 979 |
| Indiana | 417 |
| Wisconsin | 717 |
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings in the Great Lakes Region
Other Related Design Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts
Translate your creative ideas through concept, design and digital media with a bachelor's in graphic design online from Southern New Hampshire University.
Take the first step toward a career of visual expression and doing what you love with this online associate degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Learn to create a striking portfolio and hone the skills you need to succeed in the world of professional photography with this online digital photography degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Majors Related to Design
Design & Applied Arts is one of 10 different types of programs to choose from.
Majors Similar to Design
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Fine & Studio Arts | 37,413 |
| Music | 25,910 |
| Drama & Theater Arts | 17,341 |
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 16,778 |
| General Visual & Performing Arts | 6,355 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- 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 the rest 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.
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.