2027 Best Graphic Design Schools in the The Plains States Region
Graphic Design degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their graphic design programs.
College Factual analyzed 26 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best graphic design schools.
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Best Schools for Graphic Design in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall graphic design education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in Graphic Design
Leading the list is University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, our #1 school for graphic design. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 83 graphic design degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $42,462. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in graphic design from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
A rank of #2 makes University Of Nebraska Lincoln one of the top schools for graphic design. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 54 graphic design degrees were awarded at University Of Nebraska Lincoln in the most recent year. Graduates of the graphic design program make about $38,585 in their early career. University Of Nebraska Lincoln graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in graphic design from University Of Nebraska Lincoln
University Of Missouri Columbia is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in graphic design, ranking #3. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 15 graphic design degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Graduates of the graphic design program make about $53,134 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,818.
See the full graphic design program report for University Of Missouri Columbia
Maryville University Of Saint Louis is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in graphic design, ranking #4. Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Maryville University Of Saint Louis awarded about 15 graphic design degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from Maryville University Of Saint Louis generally make around $39,623. Typical student debt for the program is $24,621.
More information about a degree in graphic design from Maryville University Of Saint Louis
Iowa State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best graphic design schools. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. Iowa State University graduates 75% of students within six years. Iowa State University awarded about 88 graphic design degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their graphic design degree from Iowa State University earn around $36,634 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in graphic design from Iowa State University
Johnson County Community College landed the #6 spot for graphic design this year. Set in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public institution. Johnson County Community College awarded about 28 graphic design degrees in the most recent data year. Graphic Design graduates of Johnson County Community College earn a median of $32,030 early in their careers. Johnson County Community College graduates carry a median of $13,625 in student loans.
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University Of Northern Iowa ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best graphic design schools. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. University Of Northern Iowa graduates 68% of students within six years. About 15 graphic design degrees were awarded at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent year. Students who receive their graphic design degree from University Of Northern Iowa earn around $38,637 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Northern Iowa graduates carry a median of $25,100 in student loans.
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Dakota County Technical College earned the #8 position for graphic design this year. Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Rosemount. Dakota County Technical College awarded about 20 graphic design degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their graphic design degree from Dakota County Technical College earn around $50,429 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,474 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in graphic design from Dakota County Technical College
Augsburg College came in at #9 for graphic design this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Augsburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Augsburg College graduates 52% of students within six years. About 11 graphic design degrees were awarded at Augsburg College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from Augsburg College generally make around $59,409. Augsburg College graduates carry a median of $26,319 in student loans.
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Benedictine College landed the #10 spot for graphic design this year. Set in the town of Atchison, Benedictine College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. About 14 graphic design degrees were awarded at Benedictine College in the most recent year. Graphic Design graduates of Benedictine College earn a median of $46,255 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,990.
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Southeast Community College Area landed the #11 spot for graphic design this year. This large public university is located in the city of Lincoln. Southeast Community College Area awarded about 15 graphic design degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their graphic design degree from Southeast Community College Area earn around $44,877 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,935.
See the full graphic design program report for Southeast Community College Area
Century College earned the #12 position for graphic design this year. Century College is a large public school located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. Century College awarded about 18 graphic design degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their graphic design degree from Century College earn around $41,814 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
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Concordia University Saint Paul ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best graphic design schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 45% of students finish within six years. About 16 graphic design degrees were awarded at Concordia University Saint Paul in the most recent year. Graduates of the graphic design program make about $34,384 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $29,026 to complete this degree.
Read more about the graphic design program at Concordia University Saint Paul
South Dakota State University placed #14 among the best graphic design schools. This large public university is located in the town of Brookings. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 graphic design students who graduated with this degree at South Dakota State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from South Dakota State University generally make around $35,944. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in graphic design from South Dakota State University
North Hennepin Community College came in at #15 for graphic design this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. North Hennepin Community College awarded about 17 graphic design degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their graphic design degree from North Hennepin Community College earn around $52,492 in the first couple years of their career. North Hennepin Community College graduates carry a median of $21,241 in student loans.
Read more about the graphic design program at North Hennepin Community College
Wichita State University came in at #16 for graphic design this year. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public institution. Wichita State University graduates 51% of students within six years. About 22 graphic design degrees were awarded at Wichita State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the graphic design program make about $33,590 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the graphic design program at Wichita State University
Northeast Community College earned the #17 position for graphic design this year. Set in the town of Norfolk, Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Northeast Community College awarded about 10 graphic design degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from Northeast Community College generally make around $40,568. Typical student debt for the program is $11,937.
Read more about the graphic design program at Northeast Community College
Saint Louis Community College placed #18 among the best graphic design schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Bridgeton. There were roughly 32 graphic design students who graduated with this degree at Saint Louis Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their graphic design degree from Saint Louis Community College earn around $25,929 in the first couple years of their career. Saint Louis Community College graduates carry a median of $11,424 in student loans.
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Minnesota State Community And Technical College landed the #19 spot for graphic design this year. Located in the rural area of Fergus Falls, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 13 graphic design students who graduated with this degree at Minnesota State Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the graphic design program make about $42,972 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,197.
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Bellevue University placed #20 among the best graphic design schools. Located in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a large private not-for-profit university. Bellevue University graduates 33% of students within six years. There were roughly 48 graphic design students who graduated with this degree at Bellevue University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their graphic design degree from Bellevue University earn around $39,313 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,688 to complete this degree.
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Kansas City Art Institute landed the #21 spot for graphic design this year. Kansas City Art Institute is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. Kansas City Art Institute graduates 58% of students within six years. About 12 graphic design degrees were awarded at Kansas City Art Institute in the most recent year. Students who receive their graphic design degree from Kansas City Art Institute earn around $29,513 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Webster University earned the #22 position for graphic design this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 graphic design degrees were awarded at Webster University in the most recent year. Graphic Design graduates of Webster University earn a median of $20,257 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,550.
Read more about the graphic design program at Webster University
Rasmussen College Minnesota landed the #23 spot for graphic design this year. Located in the city of St. Cloud, Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit university. There were roughly 65 graphic design students who graduated with this degree at Rasmussen College Minnesota in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from Rasmussen College Minnesota generally make around $32,364. Typical student debt for the program is $32,080.
Get the full graphic design details for Rasmussen College Minnesota
Drury University came in at #24 for graphic design this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Springfield. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 graphic design degrees were awarded at Drury University in the most recent year. Students who receive their graphic design degree from Drury University earn around $37,267 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,641 to complete this degree.
Read more about the graphic design program at Drury University
Hawkeye Community College came in at #25 for graphic design this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Waterloo. Hawkeye Community College awarded about 17 graphic design degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their graphic design degree from Hawkeye Community College earn around $41,902 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,001 to complete this degree.
See the full graphic design program report for Hawkeye Community College
Rest of the Top 26 Graphic Design Schools
These schools also placed among the best for graphic design this year:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 26 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.