2023 Best Value Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Plains States Region (With Aid)
34
Ranked Colleges
2,327
Degrees Awarded
$15,200
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2020-2021, 36,301 people earned their degree in design and applied arts, making the major the 36th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, design and applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,426 and had an average of $25,481 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Plains States region, there were 2,327 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,239 and $24,704 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 34 colleges that offer a degree in design and applied arts. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent design and applied arts programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the design and applied arts program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
The design school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid”.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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 in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region design students with aid.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Plains States Region (With Aid)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Metropolitan Community College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Metropolitan Community College is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 82 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
MCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Metropolitan Community College is $4,315 for plains states region design students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full MCC Design & Applied Arts Report
Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Iowa State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Ames, Iowa, this large public school awarded 252 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
Iowa State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $16,002 for plains states region design students with aid per year to attend Iowa State University.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Iowa State Design & Applied Arts Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 130 students in 2020-2021.
UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $17,878 for Plains States Region Design students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Century College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Century College is located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 62 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
Century College also took the #19 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Century College is $10,397 for plains states region design students with aid.
Full Century College Design & Applied Arts Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Saint Louis Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large public school handed out 52 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Saint Louis Community College is $7,056 for plains states region design students with aid.
Full Saint Louis Community College Design & Applied Arts Report
Des Moines Area Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. DMACC is a large school located in Ankeny, Iowa that handed out 87 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Des Moines Area Community College is $9,557 for Plains States Region Design students with aid.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at DMACC
Johnson County Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. JCCC is a fairly large public school situated in Overland Park, Kansas. It awarded 91 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at JCCC, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,371 for plains states region design students with aid per year to attend JCCC.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Johnson County Community College
University of Northern Iowa came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Northern Iowa is a medium-sized school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 50 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
UNI also took the #5 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Iowa is $16,438 for Plains States Region Design students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UNI Design & Applied Arts Report
Bismarck State College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Bismarck, North Dakota, this small public school awarded 12 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Bismarck State College is $9,756 for Plains States Region Design students with aid.
Full BSC Design & Applied Arts Report
Alexandria Technical & Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Alexandria, Minnesota, and it awarded 21 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
ATCC also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #21. It costs about $13,636 for Plains States Region Design students with aid per year to attend ATCC.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Alexandria Technical & Community College
With a ranking of #11, Bellevue University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Bellevue, Nebraska is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 54 students in 2020-2021.
Bellevue University also took the #22 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,288 for Plains States Region Design students with aid per year to attend Bellevue University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Bellevue University
University of Kansas came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Lawrence, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 72 students in 2020-2021.
KU also took the #4 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for KU is $20,257 for Plains States Region Design students with aid.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Kansas Design & Applied Arts Report
Minneapolis Community and Technical College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 97 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Minneapolis Community and Technical College is $12,908 for Plains States Region Design students with aid.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Minneapolis Community and Technical College
University of Central Missouri came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Central Missouri is a public institution located in Warrensburg, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 37 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCM, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UCM is $14,058 for Plains States Region Design students with aid.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at UCM
North Dakota State University - Main Campus ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Fargo, North Dakota, and it awarded 12 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
North Dakota State University also took the #11 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for North Dakota State University is $16,998 for Plains States Region Design students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at North Dakota State University - Main Campus
With a ranking of #16, Washington University in St Louis did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 74 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
WUSTL did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Washington University in St Louis is $26,921 for plains states region design students with aid.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at WUSTL
With a ranking of #17, Bemidji State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Bemidji State University is located in Bemidji, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 23 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
Bemidji State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Bemidji State University is $16,033 for Plains States Region Design students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Bemidji State University Design & Applied Arts Report
University of Nebraska - Lincoln ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. UNL is a public institution located in Lincoln, Nebraska. The school has a large population, and it awarded 38 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UNL also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln is $17,013 for plains states region design students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at University of Nebraska - Lincoln
University of Minnesota - Duluth came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Duluth, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 44 students in 2020-2021.
UMN Duluth did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $18,505 for plains states region design students with aid per year to attend UMN Duluth.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at UMN Duluth
Wichita State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Wichita State University is located in Wichita, Kansas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 28 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $14,859 for Plains States Region Design students with aid per year to attend WSU.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Wichita State University
Saint Cloud State University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Saint Cloud, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 17 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $14,581 for plains states region design students with aid per year to attend St. Cloud State University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full St. Cloud State University Design & Applied Arts Report
Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Moorhead, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 13 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region design students with aid list, MSU Moorhead has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State University - Moorhead is $17,680 for Plains States Region Design students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Minnesota State University - Moorhead Design & Applied Arts Report
South Dakota State University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Brookings, South Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 48 students in 2020-2021.
South Dakota State also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend South Dakota State is $18,578 for Plains States Region Design students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at South Dakota State University
With a ranking of #24, Lindenwood University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Saint Charles, Missouri, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 7 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lindenwood University, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,366 for plains states region design students with aid per year to attend Lindenwood University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Lindenwood University Design & Applied Arts Report
Kansas State University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. K -State is a large public school situated in Manhattan, Kansas. It awarded 17 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
K -State also took the #24 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $18,433 for Plains States Region Design students with aid per year to attend Kansas State University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at K -State
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