2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region
34
Ranked Colleges
2,327
Degrees Awarded
$15,100
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 in the Plains States Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Design & Applied Arts is the 36th most popular major in the country with 36,301 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. 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” 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.
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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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”.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region design students.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Plains States Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Metropolitan Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region list. Omaha, Nebraska is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 82 students in 2020-2021.
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.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Metropolitan Community College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Alexandria Technical & Community College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region. This small school is located in Alexandria, Minnesota, and it awarded 21 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region design students list, ATCC has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,636 for Plains States Region Design students per year to attend Alexandria Technical & Community College.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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 ATCC Design & Applied Arts Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Century College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region list. Century College is a medium-sized school located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota that handed out 62 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Century College, the school also landed 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.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Century College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Johnson County Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Overland Park, Kansas, this fairly large public school awarded 91 diplomas to qualified ’s design students 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. The yearly cost to attend Johnson County Community College is $13,371 for plains states region design students.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Johnson County Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region list. Iowa State is located in Ames, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 252 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
Iowa State also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State University is $16,002 for Plains States Region Design students.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Iowa State
South Dakota State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #6. South Dakota State University is a fairly large public school situated in Brookings, South Dakota. It awarded 48 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
South Dakota State also took the #12 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $18,578 for plains states region design students per year to attend South Dakota State.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at South Dakota State
Bellevue University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #7. Bellevue University is located in Bellevue, Nebraska and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 54 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Bellevue University, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Bellevue University is $17,288 for plains states region design students.
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%.
Full Bellevue University Design & Applied Arts Report
Bemidji State University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Bemidji, Minnesota, this small public school handed out 23 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
Bemidji State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $16,033 for Plains States Region Design students per year to attend Bemidji State University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Bemidji State University
With a ranking of #9, North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Fargo, North Dakota, this fairly large public school awarded 12 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
North Dakota State University also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend North Dakota State University is $16,998 for plains states region design students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full North Dakota State University - Main Campus Design & Applied Arts Report
University of Northern Iowa ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region list. UNI is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 50 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
UNI also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Iowa is $16,438 for Plains States Region Design students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at UNI
Des Moines Area Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region list. Des Moines Area Community College is a public institution located in Ankeny, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 87 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Des Moines Area Community College is $9,557 for plains states region design students.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at DMACC
With a ranking of #12, Saint Louis Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region list. Saint Louis Community College is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 52 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Saint Louis Community College is $7,056 for Plains States Region Design students.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Saint Louis Community College
Bismarck State College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region list. BSC is a small school located in Bismarck, North Dakota that handed out 12 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $9,756 for plains states region design students per year to attend Bismarck State College.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at BSC
Lindenwood University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region 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.
Lindenwood University also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $17,366 for plains states region design students per year to attend Lindenwood University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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 Lindenwood University Design & Applied Arts Report
Minneapolis Community and Technical College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Minneapolis Community and Technical College is a medium-sized school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 97 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Minneapolis Community and Technical College is $12,908 for Plains States Region Design students.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Minneapolis Community and Technical College
With a ranking of #16, University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 44 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Duluth, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMN Duluth is $18,505 for Plains States Region Design students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Minnesota - Duluth Design & Applied Arts Report
Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #17. Moorhead, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.
MSU Moorhead also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #20. The yearly cost to attend MSU Moorhead is $17,680 for Plains States Region Design students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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 MSU Moorhead
University of Central Missouri came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. UCM is located in Warrensburg, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 37 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
UCM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Central Missouri is $14,058 for Plains States Region Design students.
Full University of Central Missouri Design & Applied Arts Report
With a ranking of #19, University of Kansas did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region list. University of Kansas is a public institution located in Lawrence, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 72 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
KU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $20,257 for Plains States Region Design students per year to attend KU.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at KU
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. UMN Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 130 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
UMN Twin Cities also took the #3 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMN Twin Cities is $17,878 for plains states region design students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. 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%.
Full UMN Twin Cities Design & Applied Arts Report
Saint Cloud State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region list. Saint Cloud State University is a public institution located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 17 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $14,581 for Plains States Region Design students per year to attend Saint Cloud State University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full St. Cloud State University Design & Applied Arts Report
Missouri State University - Springfield came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Missouri State is a public institution located in Springfield, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 32 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State University - Springfield is $16,718 for Plains States Region Design students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Missouri State Design & Applied Arts Report
Wichita State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #23. Wichita State University is a fairly large school located in Wichita, Kansas that handed out 28 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for WSU is $14,859 for plains states region design students.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Wichita State University
Maryville University of Saint Louis landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Maryville University of Saint Louis is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 42 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Maryville U also took the #8 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $27,290 for Plains States Region Design students per year to attend Maryville University of Saint Louis.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 more about Design & Applied Arts at Maryville University of Saint Louis
With a ranking of #25, University of Nebraska - Lincoln did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region list. University of Nebraska - Lincoln is a large public school situated in Lincoln, Nebraska. It awarded 38 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
UNL not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $17,013 for plains states region design students per year to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at UNL
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