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2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

24 Ranked Colleges
558 Degrees Awarded
$13,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Design & Applied Arts is the 34th most popular major in the country with 36,854 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, design and applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $29,542 and had an average of $27,114 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 2,352 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,931 and $22,419 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 558 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,069 and $19,434 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 24 colleges that offer a degree in design and applied arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality design and applied arts programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the design and applied arts program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region associate degree design students with aid.

Top 24 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Plains States Region (With Aid)

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Metropolitan Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. MCC is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 54 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

MCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Metropolitan Community College is $4,295 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students with aid.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at MCC

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Alexandria Technical & Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Alexandria, Minnesota, and it awarded 32 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

ATCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Alexandria Technical & Community College is $13,550 for plains states region associate degree design students with aid.

Full ATCC Design & Applied Arts Report

#3

North Hennepin Community College

Brooklyn Park, Minnesota

Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, North Hennepin Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. North Hennepin Community College is a public institution located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 11 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree design students with aid list, North Hennepin Community College has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Hennepin Community College is $10,284 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students with aid.

Full North Hennepin Community College Design & Applied Arts Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southeast Community College Area. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Southeast Community College Area is a public institution located in Lincoln, Nebraska. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southeast Community College, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $9,059 for plains states region associate degree design students with aid per year to attend Southeast Community College Area.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Southeast Community College

#5

Saint Louis Community College

Saint Louis, Missouri

Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Saint Louis Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. Saint Louis Community College is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 38 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree design students with aid list, Saint Louis Community College has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Louis Community College is $6,796 for plains states region associate degree design students with aid.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Saint Louis Community College

#6

Century College

White Bear Lake, Minnesota

Century College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Century College is a public institution located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 37 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Century College also took the #8 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,808 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students with aid per year to attend Century College.

Full Century College Design & Applied Arts Report

Des Moines Area Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Ankeny, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 33 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree design students with aid list, DMACC has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,076 for plains states region associate degree design students with aid per year to attend Des Moines Area Community College.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at DMACC

#8

Bismarck State College

Bismarck, North Dakota

Bismarck State College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Bismarck State College is a small school located in Bismarck, North Dakota that handed out 13 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at BSC, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $9,420 for plains states region associate degree design students with aid per year to attend BSC.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at BSC

#9

Johnson County Community College

Overland Park, Kansas

Johnson County Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. Johnson County Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Overland Park, Kansas. It awarded 77 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

JCCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $12,632 for plains states region associate degree design students with aid per year to attend JCCC.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at JCCC

#10

Northeast Community College

Norfolk, Nebraska

Northeast Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. This medium-sized school is located in Norfolk, Nebraska, and it awarded 12 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeast not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $8,749 for plains states region associate degree design students with aid per year to attend Northeast.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Northeast Community College

#11

Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Kirkwood Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. This fairly large school is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and it awarded 13 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree design students with aid list, Kirkwood Community College has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,939 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students with aid per year to attend Kirkwood Community College.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Kirkwood Community College

#12

Hennepin Technical College

Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
#10 in overall quality

Hennepin Technical College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Hennepin Technical College is a small public school situated in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. It awarded 6 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Hennepin Technical College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Hennepin Technical College is $11,796 for plains states region associate degree design students with aid.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Hennepin Technical College

Western Iowa Tech Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Sioux City, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

Western Iowa Tech Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Western Iowa Tech Community College is $7,201 for plains states region associate degree design students with aid.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Western Iowa Tech Community College

#14

Dakota County Technical College

Rosemount, Minnesota

With a ranking of #14, Dakota County Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Dakota County Technical College is located in Rosemount, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

DCTC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Dakota County Technical College is $11,063 for plains states region associate degree design students with aid.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at DCTC

Minneapolis Community and Technical College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 32 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Minneapolis Community and Technical College is $12,376 for plains states region associate degree design students with aid.

Full Minneapolis Community and Technical College Design & Applied Arts Report

#16

Washburn University

Topeka, Kansas
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Washburn University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Topeka, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

Washburn University also took the #9 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Washburn University is $14,481 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students with aid.

Full Washburn University Design & Applied Arts Report

#17

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota
#2 in overall quality

University of South Dakota landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. USD is a medium-sized school located in Vermillion, South Dakota that handed out 2 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USD, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of South Dakota is $18,555 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of South Dakota Design & Applied Arts Report

Iowa Central Community College landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Iowa Central Community College is a public institution located in Fort Dodge, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa Central Community College, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa Central Community College is $10,102 for plains states region associate degree design students with aid.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Iowa Central Community College

#19

Rasmussen University - Minnesota

St. Cloud, Minnesota
#18 in overall quality

Rasmussen University - Minnesota ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a small school located in St. Cloud, Minnesota that handed out 22 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Rasmussen University - Minnesota also took the #18 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $18,586 for plains states region associate degree design students with aid per year to attend Rasmussen University - Minnesota.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Rasmussen University - Minnesota

#20

Dunwoody College of Technology

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Dunwoody College of Technology did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. This small school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 5 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree design students with aid list, Dunwoody College of Technology has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Dunwoody College of Technology is $24,488 for plains states region associate degree design students with aid.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Dunwoody College of Technology

#20 in overall quality

Rasmussen University - North Dakota did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #21. Rasmussen University - North Dakota is located in Fargo, North Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree design students with aid list, Rasmussen University - North Dakota has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Rasmussen University - North Dakota is $18,939 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students with aid.

Full Rasmussen University - North Dakota Design & Applied Arts Report

#23 in overall quality

Stevens - The Institute of Business & Arts ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Stevens - The Institute of Business & Arts is a small private for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 3 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Siba also took the #23 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Siba is $17,378 for plains states region associate degree design students with aid.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Siba

#24 in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, Rasmussen University - Kansas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Rasmussen University - Kansas is located in Topeka, Kansas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

Rasmussen University - Kansas also took the #24 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $18,934 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students with aid per year to attend Rasmussen University - Kansas.

Full Rasmussen University - Kansas Design & Applied Arts Report

#24

The Creative Center

Omaha, Nebraska
#22 in overall quality

The Creative Center ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Omaha, Nebraska is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associates’s design degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

Creative Center also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #22. The estimated yearly cost for Creative Center is $38,413 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students with aid.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Creative Center

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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