2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2019-2020, 36,854 people earned their degree in design and applied arts, making the major the 34th most popular in the United States. 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.
This year’s “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 24 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the design and applied arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
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Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region.
Top 24 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Plains States Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Alexandria Technical & Community College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region. Alexandria Technical & Community College is a public institution located in Alexandria, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 32 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at ATCC, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Alexandria Technical & Community College is $13,550 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Alexandria Technical & Community College
Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Metropolitan Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and it awarded 54 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
MCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #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.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Metropolitan Community College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend North Hennepin Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region. North Hennepin Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. It awarded 11 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
North Hennepin Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend North Hennepin Community College is $10,284 for plains states region associate degree design students.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at North Hennepin Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Johnson County Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Located in Overland Park, Kansas, this fairly large public school awarded 77 degrees to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.
JCCC also took the #3 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for JCCC is $12,632 for plains states region associate degree design students.
Full Johnson County Community College Design & Applied Arts Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Century College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region. White Bear Lake, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 37 students 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. The estimated yearly cost for Century College is $10,808 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students.
Bismarck State College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Bismarck, North Dakota, and it awarded 13 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
BSC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Bismarck State College is $9,420 for plains states region associate degree design students.
With a ranking of #7, University of South Dakota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. USD is a medium-sized public school situated in Vermillion, South Dakota. It awarded 2 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
USD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend USD is $18,555 for plains states region associate degree design students.
The low student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 University of South Dakota
Hennepin Technical College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, and it awarded 6 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Hennepin Technical College, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,796 for plains states region associate degree design students per year to attend Hennepin Technical College.
Full Hennepin Technical College Design & Applied Arts Report
Dakota County Technical College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #9. Dakota County Technical College is a small school located in Rosemount, Minnesota that handed out 16 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
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. It costs about $11,063 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students per year to attend DCTC.
Full Dakota County Technical College Design & Applied Arts Report
Northeast Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Northeast is a public institution located in Norfolk, Nebraska. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 12 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northeast, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northeast is $8,749 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students.
Saint Louis Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Saint Louis Community College is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 38 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.
Saint Louis Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Saint Louis Community College is $6,796 for plains states region associate degree design students.
Full Saint Louis Community College Design & Applied Arts Report
Western Iowa Tech Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a public institution located in Sioux City, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 7 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Western Iowa Tech Community College, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Western Iowa Tech Community College is $7,201 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Western Iowa Tech Community College
Kirkwood Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #13. Kirkwood Community College is a fairly large school located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that handed out 13 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
Kirkwood Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Kirkwood Community College is $10,939 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students.
Full Kirkwood Community College Design & Applied Arts Report
Des Moines Area Community College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. DMACC is a large school located in Ankeny, Iowa that handed out 33 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
DMACC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend DMACC is $10,076 for plains states region associate degree design students.
Southeast Community College Area landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Southeast Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Lincoln, Nebraska. It awarded 2 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
Southeast Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $9,059 for plains states region associate degree design students per year to attend Southeast Community College.
Full Southeast Community College Area Design & Applied Arts Report
Minneapolis Community and Technical College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Minneapolis Community and Technical College is a medium-sized school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 32 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
Minneapolis Community and Technical College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Minneapolis Community and Technical College is $12,376 for plains states region associate degree design students.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Dunwoody College of Technology came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Dunwoody College of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Dunwoody College of Technology not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Dunwoody College of Technology is $24,488 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students.
The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 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 Dunwoody College of Technology
Iowa Central Community College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region 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.
Iowa Central Community College also took the #21 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,102 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students per year to attend Iowa Central Community College.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Iowa Central Community College
Rasmussen University - Minnesota ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, this small private for-profit school handed out 22 diplomas to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rasmussen University - Minnesota, the school also landed 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 per year to attend Rasmussen University - Minnesota.
With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Rasmussen University - Minnesota
Washburn University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Washburn University is a medium-sized school located in Topeka, Kansas that handed out 10 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Washburn University, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,481 for plains states region associate degree design students per year to attend Washburn University.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Washburn University
Rasmussen University - North Dakota ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Rasmussen University - North Dakota is a small private for-profit school situated in Fargo, North Dakota. It awarded 3 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
Rasmussen University - North Dakota not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Rasmussen University - North Dakota is $18,939 for plains states region associate degree design students.
Full Rasmussen University - North Dakota Design & Applied Arts Report
Stevens - The Institute of Business & Arts did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #22. Siba is a private for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 associates’s 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. It costs about $17,378 for plains states region associate degree design students per year to attend Siba.
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.
Full Stevens - The Institute of Business & Arts Design & Applied Arts Report
The Creative Center did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, this small private for-profit school handed out 13 degrees to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.
Creative Center not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend The Creative Center is $38,413 for plains states region associate degree design students.
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.
Rasmussen University - Kansas ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Topeka, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associates’s design degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rasmussen University - Kansas, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Rasmussen University - Kansas is $18,934 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Rasmussen University - Kansas
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Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Plains States Region
Design & Applied Arts students in the Plains States Region
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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