Best colleges for Design and Applied Arts in Michigan
Ranked by graduate earnings
Western Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University and Central Michigan University are the top bachelor's Design and Applied Arts programs in Michigan by graduate earnings. Western Michigan University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,077, College Scorecard. Michigan State University, College for Creative Studies and Ferris State University award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Michigan: 196, 75 and 74 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 31 Michigan colleges offer Design and Applied Arts and award 795 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 9 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 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,077 | 49 | 58% | — | $27,000 |
| 2 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,443 | 47 | 46% | — | — |
| 3 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,917 | 53 | 59% | — | $28,500 |
| 4 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,784 | 196 | 81% | — | $28,175 |
| 5 | Ferris State University Big Rapids Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,045 | 74 | 47% | — | $27,000 |
| 6 | College for Creative Studies Detroit Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,665 | 75 | 71% | $32,153 | $26,000 |
| 7 | Oakland University Rochester Hills Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,687 | 67 | 58% | — | $27,954 |
| 8 | Saginaw Valley State University University Center Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,577 | 33 | 48% | — | $26,125 |
| 9 | University of Michigan-Flint Flint Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $18,339 | 13 | 40% | — | $30,695 |
Top 2 certificate and associate programs
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 | Henry Ford College Dearborn Public · Associate degree Small program | $19,911 | 13 | 17% | — | $19,075 |
| 2 | Macomb Community College Warren Public · Associate degree Small program | $17,057 | 1 | 18% | — | $10,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Michigan
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 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public | 196 | $36,784 |
| 2 | College for Creative Studies Detroit Private not-for-profit | 75 | $32,665 |
| 3 | Ferris State University Big Rapids Public | 74 | $34,045 |
| 4 | Oakland University Rochester Hills Public | 67 | $30,687 |
| 5 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant Public | 53 | $36,917 |
| 6 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public | 49 | $39,077 |
| 7 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public | 47 | $38,443 |
| 8 | Lawrence Technological University Southfield Private not-for-profit | 36 | Not reported |
| 9 | Saginaw Valley State University University Center Public | 33 | $27,577 |
| 10 | Adrian College Adrian Private not-for-profit | 23 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 21 Michigan colleges offering Design and Applied Arts
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024).
Top skills
What Graphic Designers earn in Michigan
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Design and Applied Arts programs in Michigan.
Which Michigan colleges award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees?+
Michigan State University (196 graduates a year), College for Creative Studies (75 graduates a year) and Ferris State University (74 graduates a year) award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Michigan, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 31 Michigan colleges offer Design and Applied Arts.
What is the best college for Design and Applied Arts in Michigan?+
By graduate earnings, Western Michigan University leads among bachelor's Design and Applied Arts programs in Michigan, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,077, College Scorecard. Eastern Michigan University and Central Michigan University follow. By degrees awarded, Michigan State University is the largest, with 196 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Design and Applied Arts program in Michigan has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Western Michigan University tops the list at $39,077. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Graphic Designers earn in Michigan?+
The average annual wage for Graphic Designers in Michigan is $60,250 (median $57,350), across about 6,070 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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