Best colleges for Design and Applied Arts in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Illinois State University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and University of Illinois Chicago are the top bachelor's Design and Applied Arts programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. Illinois State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,287, College Scorecard. Columbia College Chicago, University of Illinois Chicago and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Illinois: 300, 83 and 60 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 45 Illinois colleges offer Design and Applied Arts and award 1,036 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Design and Applied Arts program focuses on the intersection of design and practical application, teaching students how to create aesthetically pleasing objects for everyday use. This program is ideal for individuals interested in…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois State University Normal Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,287 | 32 | 65% | — | $24,986 |
| 2 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,670 | 60 | 85% | — | $18,839 |
| 3 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,377 | 83 | 62% | — | $25,750 |
| 4 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $30,536 | 39 | 68% | $28,141 | $27,000 |
| 5 | Columbia College Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,630 | 300 | 52% | $28,087 | $27,000 |
| 6 | North Central College Naperville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $28,037 | 21 | 64% | $20,052 | $22,000 |
| 7 | Judson University Elgin Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $37,466 | 5 | 60% | $25,200 | — |
| 8 | Dominican University River Forest Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $22,938 | 5 | 55% | $16,176 | $26,978 |
| 9 | Bradley University Peoria Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $22,893 | 6 | 76% | $21,768 | — |
| 10 | Roosevelt University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $19,028 | 13 | 35% | $21,085 | $27,000 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | College of DuPage Glen Ellyn Public · Associate degree | $31,463 | 75 | 25% | — | $11,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Illinois
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia College Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 300 | $29,630 |
| 2 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | 83 | $34,377 |
| 3 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 60 | $34,670 |
| 4 | William Rainey Harper College Palatine Public | 54 | Not reported |
| 5 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 39 | $30,536 |
| 6 | Illinois State University Normal Public | 32 | $39,287 |
| 7 | Elmhurst University Elmhurst Private not-for-profit | 28 | Not reported |
| 8 | McHenry County College Crystal Lake Public | 27 | Not reported |
| 9 | Rend Lake College Ina Public | 26 | Not reported |
| 10 | Elgin Community College Elgin Public | 23 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 35 Illinois colleges offering Design and Applied Arts
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn | Public | 75 |
| Joliet Junior College | Joliet | Public | 36 |
| Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago | Public | 22 |
| North Central College | Naperville | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| Aurora University | Aurora | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Loyola University Chicago | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Lincoln Land Community College | Springfield | Public | 14 |
| Augustana College | Rock Island | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Moraine Valley Community College | Palos Hills | Public | 13 |
| Roosevelt University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Benedictine University | Lisle | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Triton College | River Grove | Public | 11 |
| Oakton College | Des Plaines | Public | 9 |
| College of Lake County | Grayslake | Public | 8 |
| Southern Illinois University - Carbondale | Carbondale | Public | 8 |
| University of Chicago | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Bradley University | Peoria | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Sauk Valley Community College | Dixon | Public | 6 |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Black Hawk College | Moline | Public | 5 |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Judson University | Elgin | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Dominican University | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Millikin University | Decatur | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Northwestern University | Evanston | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Quincy University | Quincy | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Trinity Christian College | Palos Heights | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| John A Logan College | Carterville | Public | 3 |
| John Wood Community College | Quincy | Public | 2 |
| Prairie State College | Chicago Heights | Public | 2 |
| Eureka College | Eureka | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Highland Community College | Freeport | Public | 1 |
| Lewis and Clark Community College | Godfrey | Public | 1 |
| Saint Xavier University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024).
Top skills
What Graphic Designers earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Design and Applied Arts programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees?+
Columbia College Chicago (300 graduates a year), University of Illinois Chicago (83 graduates a year) and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (60 graduates a year) award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 45 Illinois colleges offer Design and Applied Arts.
What is the best college for Design and Applied Arts in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, Illinois State University leads among bachelor's Design and Applied Arts programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,287, College Scorecard. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and University of Illinois Chicago follow. By degrees awarded, Columbia College Chicago is the largest, with 300 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Design and Applied Arts program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Illinois State University tops the list at $39,287. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Graphic Designers earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Graphic Designers in Illinois is $66,980 (median $62,560), across about 8,960 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Design and Applied Arts program?+
The Design and Applied Arts program focuses on the intersection of design and practical application, teaching students how to create aesthetically pleasing objects for everyday use. This program is ideal for individuals interested in…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, speaking, critical thinking, writing, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Graphic Designers?+
The national job outlook is about +2.1% growth with around 20,000 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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