College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region

42 Ranked Colleges
538 Degrees Awarded
$25,295 Avg Salary
Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region” 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. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 538 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,723 and $22,140 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region” ranking, we looked at 42 colleges that offer a degree in design and applied arts. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their design and applied arts program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Design Rankings Other Ranking Categories

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

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.

Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region

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

Top 25 Most Focused Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Plains States Region

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stevens - The Institute of Business & Arts. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associates’s design degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Siba Design & Applied Arts Report

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Metropolitan Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. Metropolitan Community College is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 79 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

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%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at MCC

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Alexandria Technical & Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region. Alexandria, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.

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 more about Design & Applied Arts at ATCC

4
Dunwoody College of Technology crest
Dunwoody College of Technology
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Out of the 42 schools in the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Dunwoody College of Technology landed the #4 spot on the list. Dunwoody College of Technology is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

The impressive undergraduate 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.

Full Dunwoody College of Technology Design & Applied Arts Report

5
JCCC crest
Johnson County Community College
Overland Park, Kansas

Out of the 42 schools in the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Johnson County Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Overland Park, Kansas, this fairly large public school handed out 66 diplomas to qualified associates’s design students in 2020-2021.

Full JCCC Design & Applied Arts Report

6
DCTC crest
Dakota County Technical College
Rosemount, Minnesota

Dakota County Technical College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Dakota County Technical College is a public institution located in Rosemount, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 19 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at DCTC

7
United Tribes Technical College crest
United Tribes Technical College
Bismarck, North Dakota

United Tribes Technical College ranked #7 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. United Tribes Technical College is located in Bismarck, North Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

The impressive undergraduate 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 United Tribes Technical College

8

Iowa Lakes Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #8. Iowa Lakes Community College is a public institution located in Estherville, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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

9

With a ranking of #9, Minneapolis Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. Minneapolis Community and Technical College is a medium-sized public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 28 associates’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Minneapolis Community and Technical College

10
Oglala Lakota College crest
Oglala Lakota College
Kyle, South Dakota

With a ranking of #10, Oglala Lakota College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. Oglala Lakota College is a small school located in Kyle, South Dakota that handed out 3 associates’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Oglala Lakota College

11
Century College crest
Century College
White Bear Lake, Minnesota

With a ranking of #11, Century College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. Century College is a medium-sized public school situated in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. It awarded 31 associates’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Century College

12
Saint Louis Community College crest
Saint Louis Community College
Saint Louis, Missouri

Saint Louis Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #12. Saint Louis Community College is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 42 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Saint Louis Community College

13

Hawkeye Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. Hawkeye Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Waterloo, Iowa. It awarded 15 associates’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Hawkeye Community College

14
SCC crest
St Charles Community College
Cottleville, Missouri

With a ranking of #14, St Charles Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. SCC is a medium-sized school located in Cottleville, Missouri that handed out 15 associates’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Full SCC Design & Applied Arts Report

15

Rochester Community and Technical College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Rochester, Minnesota, this small public school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified associates’s design students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Rochester Community and Technical College

16
BSC crest
Bismarck State College
Bismarck, North Dakota

Bismarck State College ranked #16 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. Bismarck, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at BSC

17

With a ranking of #17, Des Moines Area Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. Des Moines Area Community College is located in Ankeny, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 40 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

Full DMACC Design & Applied Arts Report

18
North Hennepin Community College crest
North Hennepin Community College
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota

North Hennepin Community College landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Brooklyn Park, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at North Hennepin Community College

19
Kirkwood Community College crest
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Kirkwood Community College landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Kirkwood Community College is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 22 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

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

20

Rasmussen University - Kansas landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Rasmussen University - Kansas is a small private for-profit school situated in Topeka, Kansas. It awarded 3 associates’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Rasmussen University - Kansas Design & Applied Arts Report

21

With a ranking of #21, Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology is a public institution located in Wichita, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full WSU Tech Design & Applied Arts Report

22
Northeast crest
Northeast Community College
Norfolk, Nebraska

Northeast Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. Northeast is located in Norfolk, Nebraska and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% 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 Northeast Design & Applied Arts Report

23
Rasmussen University - Minnesota crest
Rasmussen University - Minnesota
St. Cloud, Minnesota

Rasmussen University - Minnesota ranked #23 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, and it awarded 13 associates’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.

Full Rasmussen University - Minnesota Design & Applied Arts Report

24

Southeast Community College Area ranked #24 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Lincoln, Nebraska, and it awarded 8 associates’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Southeast Community College Area Design & Applied Arts Report

25

Central Lakes College - Brainerd did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #25. Central Lakes College is a small school located in Brainerd, Minnesota that handed out 5 associates’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Central Lakes College - Brainerd

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options