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Featured Design & Applied Arts Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
AA in Digital Photography
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.
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BA in Digital Photography
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.
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Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in Illinois
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
Illinois State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 32 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $39,287 in their early career. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $24,986 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Illinois State University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 62 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $34,670. Typical student debt for the program is $18,839.
Get the full design & applied arts details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Loyola University Chicago came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,521.
Get the full design & applied arts details for Loyola University Chicago
A rank of #4 makes Northwestern University one of the top schools for design & applied arts. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northwestern University awarded about 11 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $78,551 early in their careers. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
Get the full design & applied arts details for Northwestern University
Depaul University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in design & applied arts, ranking #5. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Depaul University awarded about 55 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Depaul University earn around $30,536 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 Depaul University
University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. About 62% of students finish within six years. About 70 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of Illinois At Chicago earn around $34,377 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,750.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at University Of Illinois At Chicago
Aurora University placed #7 among the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Aurora University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $51,483 in their early career. Aurora University graduates carry a median of $24,507 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Aurora University
Northeastern Illinois University landed the #8 spot for design & applied arts this year. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 22% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $49,254 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,600.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Northeastern Illinois University
Harper College landed the #9 spot for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Palatine. Harper College awarded about 48 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $44,523 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Harper College
College Of Dupage placed #10 among the best design & applied arts schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. College Of Dupage awarded about 91 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $31,798 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,077 to complete this degree.
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Elgin Community College placed #11 among the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public university. About 24 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Elgin Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Elgin Community College earn around $43,975 in the first couple years of their career. Elgin Community College graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans.
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Elmhurst College earned the #12 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Elmhurst College graduates 70% of students within six years. Elmhurst College awarded about 23 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Elmhurst College earn around $51,232 in the first couple years of their career. Elmhurst College graduates carry a median of $22,400 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Elmhurst College
North Central College placed #13 among the best design & applied arts schools. North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Naperville. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. There were roughly 10 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at North Central College in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of North Central College earn a median of $28,037 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from North Central College
Joliet Junior College earned the #14 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 39 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Joliet Junior College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $40,118. Typical student debt for the program is $11,995.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Joliet Junior College
Sauk Valley Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the rural area of Dixon, Sauk Valley Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 17 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Sauk Valley Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Sauk Valley Community College generally make around $48,855. Sauk Valley Community College graduates carry a median of $12,811 in student loans.
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Columbia College Chicago landed the #16 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 52% of students finish within six years. Columbia College Chicago awarded about 293 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median of $29,630 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Columbia College Chicago
Mchenry County College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This large public university is located in the rural area of Crystal Lake. Mchenry County College awarded about 20 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $24,177 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,440.
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Triton College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of River Grove. There were roughly 19 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Triton College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $43,278 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,994.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Triton College
Rend Lake College came in at #19 for design & applied arts this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Ina. There were roughly 15 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Rend Lake College in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Rend Lake College earn a median of $42,770 early in their careers. Rend Lake College graduates carry a median of $8,688 in student loans.
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