by our College Data Analytics Team
[Graphic Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/graphic-design/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 124 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for graphic design students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in graphic design, balancing cost against outcomes.
Cuyahoga Community College District earned the #1 spot for value among graphic design schools in the Great Lakes Region. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,249, compared with $7,249 for out-of-state students. Graphic Design graduates carry a median of $11,795 in student loans. Early-career graphic design graduates make about $22,517. That is a strong return on a $11,795 median debt.
Elgin Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value graphic design schools. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,252, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $7,727. Graphic Design graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of $43,975 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harper College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in graphic design, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,894 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,874 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete the graphic design program here. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $44,523. That is a strong return on a $10,963 median debt.
Joliet Junior College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value graphic design schools. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,530, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $11,995. Early-career graphic design graduates make about $40,118. Set against $11,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Muskegon Community College earned it the #5 place for graphic design. Set in the city of Muskegon, Muskegon Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,250 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,010. Graphic Design graduates carry a median of $14,928 in student loans. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from Muskegon Community College generally make around $48,267. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Kalamazoo Valley Community College placed #6 among the best values for graphic design. Set in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,144, with out-of-state students paying around $9,094. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $15,525. Early-career graphic design graduates make about $44,198. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gateway Technical College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value graphic design schools. Gateway Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Kenosha. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,956, while out-of-state students pay about $7,199. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete the graphic design program here. Early-career graphic design graduates make about $29,734. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mchenry County College came in at #8 for value in graphic design this year. Set in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,162, with out-of-state students paying around $14,399. Graphic Design graduates carry a median of $7,440 in student loans. Graphic Design graduates of Mchenry County College earn a median of $24,177 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,440 median debt.
Waukesha County Technical College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value graphic design schools. Located in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,803, while out-of-state students pay about $7,046. Students borrow a median of $15,554 to complete the graphic design program here. Graphic Design graduates of Waukesha County Technical College earn a median of $39,095 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,554 median debt.
Rend Lake College came in at #10 for value in graphic design this year. Located in the rural area of Ina, Rend Lake College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,500 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,800. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $8,688. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from Rend Lake College generally make around $42,770. Set against $8,688 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Stark State College earned the #11 position for value in graphic design this year. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,790 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,886. Students borrow a median of $17,349 to complete the graphic design program here. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from Stark State College generally make around $42,724. That is a strong return on a $17,349 median debt.
Lakeland Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value graphic design schools. Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirtland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,872, with out-of-state students paying around $9,235. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $19,857. Early-career graphic design graduates make about $51,941. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chippewa Valley Technical College earned the #13 position for value in graphic design this year. Located in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,844, while out-of-state students pay about $7,087. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $14,234. Graphic Design graduates of Chippewa Valley Technical College earn a median of $45,531 early in their careers. Set against $14,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Milwaukee Area Technical College landed the #14 spot for graphic design value this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,184, compared with $7,427 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,296 to complete the graphic design program here. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from Milwaukee Area Technical College generally make around $27,795. That is a strong return on a $18,296 median debt.
Madison Area Technical College earned the #15 position for value in graphic design this year. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. Students from in state pay about $4,977 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,141 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $15,750. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from Madison Area Technical College generally make around $30,710. Set against $15,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Illinois At Chicago landed the #16 spot for graphic design value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Students borrow a median of $25,750 to complete the graphic design program here. Graphic Design graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $34,377 early in their careers. Set against $25,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Western Technical College La Cross earned the #17 position for value in graphic design this year. Set in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College La Cross is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,820, compared with $7,078 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $12,057. Graphic Design graduates of Western Technical College La Cross earn a median of $23,032 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeastern Illinois University earned the #18 position for value in graphic design this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,383, with out-of-state students paying around $22,726. Students borrow a median of $17,600 to complete the graphic design program here. Graphic Design graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $49,254 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Ferris State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value graphic design schools. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,778. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $27,000. Graphic Design graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of $34,045 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point came in at #20 for value in graphic design this year. Located in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,228, with out-of-state students paying around $18,248. Students borrow a median of $23,684 to complete the graphic design program here. Early-career graphic design graduates make about $41,243. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value graphic design schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Students borrow a median of $18,839 to complete the graphic design program here. Early-career graphic design graduates make about $34,670. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Owens Community College placed #22 among the best values for graphic design. Located in the suburb of Perrysburg, Owens Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,870, with out-of-state students paying around $10,502. Students borrow a median of $19,383 to complete the graphic design program here. Graphic Design graduates of Owens Community College earn a median of $45,785 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,383 median debt.
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #23 position for value in graphic design this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Students borrow a median of $20,875 to complete the graphic design program here. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $49,780. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Ball State University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value graphic design schools. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,082, while out-of-state students pay about $29,630. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete the graphic design program here. Graphic Design graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $47,863 early in their careers. Set against $22,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Akron Main Campus earned the #25 position for value in graphic design this year. Located in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,135, while out-of-state students pay about $20,815. Graphic Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Graphic Design graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $39,856 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of Akron Main Campus admits about 60% of applicants.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in graphic design:
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The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 124 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 30 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.