Best Art & Design Colleges in Michigan (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 17 schools in Michigan for Art & Design by the median earnings of Art & Design graduates four years after completing. Lawrence Technological University leads the list at $99,444.
Across the 8 schools with a published figure, earnings range from $99,444 to $28,816, with a median of $46,654. For 2 of the listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
12 of the schools are public and 5 are private nonprofit, a 71% public share. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ranks 16th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and it also posts the highest six-year completion rate on the page at 93%. University of Michigan-Flint reports the lowest average net price at $7,007.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Art & Design Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lawrence Technological University · Southfield, MI | $99,444 | $32,918 | $25,980 | 55.9% |
| Lawrence Technological University reports $99,444 in median earnings of Art & Design graduates four years after completing, the highest figure on this list, and posts a six-year completion rate of 61%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (20 graduates) | |||||
| 2 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, MI | No published median | $13,138 | $1,043 | 15.6% |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor carries an average net price of $13,138 and an admission rate of 16%, the most selective on the page, while ranking 16th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (153 graduates), Film/Video and Photographic Arts (86 graduates), Music (83 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Fine and Studio Arts ($66,846), Film/Video and Photographic Arts ($57,059), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft ($45,888) | |||||
| 3 | College for Creative Studies · Detroit, MI | No published median | $34,617 | $30,267 | 91.9% |
| A private nonprofit institution in Detroit, College for Creative Studies admits 92% of applicants and shows a six-year completion rate of 71%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (86 graduates), Film/Video and Photographic Arts (13 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (10 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($61,222), Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry ($41,739), Film/Video and Photographic Arts ($35,797) | |||||
| 4 | Michigan State University · East Lansing, MI | $51,055 | $19,680 | $7,068 | 84.8% |
| Michigan State University posts $51,055 in median earnings of Art & Design graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $19,680. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (98 graduates), Music (56 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (31 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($53,250), Music ($52,132), Fine and Studio Arts ($50,098) | |||||
| 5 | Ferris State University · Big Rapids, MI | $49,443 | $8,624 | $2,556 | 91.4% |
| With an average net price of $8,624, Ferris State University reports $49,443 in median earnings of Art & Design graduates four years after completing and a six-year completion rate of 47%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (101 graduates), Film/Video and Photographic Arts (14 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (11 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($50,658), Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management ($48,367), Fine and Studio Arts ($39,165) | |||||
| 6 | Central Michigan University · Mount Pleasant, MI | $48,085 | $17,597 | $12,185 | 89.8% |
| Central Michigan University graduates 59% of its students within six years and lists $48,085 in median earnings of Art & Design graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (55 graduates), Music (22 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (19 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($54,254), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft ($43,916), Music ($43,089) | |||||
| 7 | Western Michigan University · Kalamazoo, MI | $45,223 | $15,273 | $5,263 | 84.6% |
| Western Michigan University reports $45,223 in median earnings of Art & Design graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $5,263 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (68 graduates), Design and Applied Arts (64 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (37 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($58,634), Film/Video and Photographic Arts ($45,391), Dance ($45,108) | |||||
| 8 | Oakland University · Rochester Hills, MI | No published median | $9,120 | $4,422 | 87.8% |
| Oakland University ranks 147th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and carries an average net price of $9,120. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (61 graduates), Film/Video and Photographic Arts (24 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (17 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($47,432), Fine and Studio Arts ($44,270), Film/Video and Photographic Arts ($43,186) | |||||
| 9 | Saginaw Valley State University · University Center, MI | $41,999 | $10,775 | $9,844 | 72.1% |
| Saginaw Valley State University lists $41,999 in median earnings of Art & Design graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 72%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (32 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (16 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (10 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($41,864) | |||||
| 10 | Grand Valley State University · Allendale, MI | No published median | $16,317 | $12,272 | 83.0% |
| Grand Valley State University shows a six-year completion rate of 67% and an average net price of $12,272 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Film/Video and Photographic Arts (79 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (51 graduates), Music (24 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Music ($49,111), Fine and Studio Arts ($39,307), Film/Video and Photographic Arts ($39,082) | |||||
| 11 | Wayne State University · Detroit, MI | No published median | $12,766 | $11,090 | 81.2% |
| Wayne State University ranks 80th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and admits 81% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (53 graduates), Music (47 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (34 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Music ($50,340), Fine and Studio Arts ($39,271), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft ($32,525) | |||||
| 12 | Eastern Michigan University · Ypsilanti, MI | No published median | $15,407 | $13,250 | 79.6% |
| Eastern Michigan University carries an average net price of $15,407 and a six-year completion rate of 46%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (65 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (41 graduates), Music (19 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Film/Video and Photographic Arts ($49,388), Fine and Studio Arts ($41,225) | |||||
| 13 | Northern Michigan University · Marquette, MI | No published median | $14,085 | $7,697 | 84.0% |
| Northern Michigan University, a public university in Marquette, ranks 674th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports a six-year completion rate of 52%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (57 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (10 graduates), Film/Video and Photographic Arts (7 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Fine and Studio Arts ($36,228) | |||||
| 14 | University of Michigan-Flint · Flint, MI | $29,685 | $7,007 | $1,517 | 70.5% |
| University of Michigan-Flint reports median earnings of $29,685 for its Art & Design graduates two years after completing, alongside an average net price of $7,007. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (9 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (8 graduates) | |||||
| 15 | Aquinas College · Grand Rapids, MI | $28,816 | $16,626 | $10,725 | 89.9% |
| A private nonprofit institution in Grand Rapids, Aquinas College admits 90% of applicants and shows a six-year completion rate of 65%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (6 graduates) | |||||
| 16 | Hope College · Holland, MI | No published median | $27,182 | $17,606 | 79.2% |
| Hope College ranks 1255th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and posts an average net price of $17,606 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Dance (8 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (7 graduates) | |||||
| 17 | Calvin University · Grand Rapids, MI | No published median | $22,992 | $19,281 | 70.9% |
| Calvin University, a private nonprofit institution in Grand Rapids, graduates 74% of its students within six years and ranks 1140th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (10 graduates), Design and Applied Arts (9 graduates), Film/Video and Photographic Arts (7 graduates) | |||||
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Art & Design graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only schools with a reported Art & Design earnings cohort in Michigan appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 2 of the 17 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 8 schools with a published figure. The spread from Lawrence Technological University to the bottom of the list is $70,628.