ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2025 Best Design & Applied Arts Master's Degree Schools in Illinois

2 Colleges in Illinois
67 Master's Degrees
a master's degree in design & applied arts is more popular than many other degrees. In fact, it ranks #72 out of 343 on popularity of all such degrees in the nation. This means you won't have too much trouble finding schools that offer the degree.

In 2025, College Factual analyzed 2 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Design & Applied Arts Master's Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 67 master's degrees in design & applied arts to qualified students.

What's on this page: * Our Methodology

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = "visual-and-performing-arts//design-and-applied-arts"
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/offers.json", major_slug = "visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts"
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = "visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts"
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = "visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts"
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 7
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 50.04), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts" with relevance 0.9
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.9)
DEBUG: Checking offer "AA in Digital Photography" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "AA in Digital Photography" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BA in Digital Photography" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BA in Digital Photography" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BA in Game Art & Development" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BA in Game Art & Development" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts - Web Design" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts - Web Design" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BS in Game Programming & Development" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "BS in Game Programming & Development" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 6
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 0 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 0
DEBUG: No ESYOH offers, checking direct offers

Average Earnings

To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving their master's degree from the school. This is because one of the main reasons people pursue their master's degree is to enable themselves to find better-paying positions.

Other Factors We Consider

The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.

Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for design & applied arts students working on their master's degree.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Design Rankings Other Ranking Categories

When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings, including this Best Design & Applied Arts Master's Degree Schools in Illinois list to help you make the college decision.

DEBUG: Raw major_slug = "visual-and-performing-arts//design-and-applied-arts"
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/offers.json", major_slug = "visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts"
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = "visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts"
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = "visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts"
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 7
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 50.04), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts" with relevance 0.9
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.9)
DEBUG: Checking offer "AA in Digital Photography" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "AA in Digital Photography" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BA in Digital Photography" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BA in Digital Photography" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BA in Game Art & Development" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BA in Game Art & Development" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts - Web Design" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts - Web Design" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BS in Game Programming & Development" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "BS in Game Programming & Development" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 6
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 0 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 0
DEBUG: No ESYOH offers, checking direct offers

ADBLOCK #171

Best Schools for Master’s Students to Study Design & Applied Arts in Illinois

The following list ranks the best colleges and universities for pursuing a master's degree in design & applied arts.

Top Illinois Schools for a Master's in Design

1
22 Annual Graduates

University of Illinois at Chicago is one of the best schools in the country for getting a master's degree in design & applied arts. Located in the large city of Chicago, UIC is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in design & applied arts from University of Illinois at Chicago

2
22 Annual Graduates

It is difficult to beat School of the Art Institute of Chicago if you want to pursue a master's degree in design & applied arts. Located in the large city of Chicago, School of the Art Institute of Chicago is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.More information about a master’s in design & applied arts from School of the Art Institute of Chicago

DEBUG: Raw major_slug = "visual-and-performing-arts//design-and-applied-arts"
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/offers.json", major_slug = "visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts"
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = "visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts"
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = "visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts"
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 7
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 50.04), keeping min_relevance at 0.5
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.5, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "BA in Game Art & Development" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BA in Game Art & Development" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts - Web Design" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts - Web Design" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BS in Game Programming & Development" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BS in Game Programming & Development" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 4
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 0 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.5
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 0
DEBUG: No ESYOH offers, checking direct offers

Best Design & Applied Arts Colleges in the Great Lakes Region

Explore all the Best Design & Applied Arts Colleges in the Great Lakes Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Michigan 211 34
Ohio 207 90
Indiana 191 16
Wisconsin 173 3
ADBLOCK #172

View All Rankings >

Design & Applied Arts is one of 10 different types of Visual & Performing Arts programs to choose from.

Design Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Visual Communications 17
Graphic Design 16
Fashion Design 14
Other Design & Applied Arts 12
Industrial Design 5
Game & Interactive Media Design 3
ADBLOCK #173

Related Major Annual Graduates
Music 375
Fine & Studio Arts 285
Drama & Theater Arts 132
Arts & Media Management 128
Film, Video & Photographic Arts 67
General Visual & Performing Arts 9
Dance 3

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options