2023 Most Focused Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Plains States Region
118
Ranked Colleges
2,327
Degrees Awarded
$23,900
Avg Cost*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region” ranking.
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.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 118 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in design and applied arts. That schools that top this list have a program in design and applied arts in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region design students.
Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Plains States Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Minneapolis College of Art and Design. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. MCAD is a small school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 71 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Minneapolis College of Art and Design
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stevens - The Institute of Business & Arts. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region. This small school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 11 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Siba
Out of the 118 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Kansas City Art Institute landed the #3 spot on the list. Kansas City Art Institute is located in Kansas City, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 51 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Kansas City Art Institute Design & Applied Arts Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Dunwoody College of Technology. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 24 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.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Dunwoody College of Technology
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Metropolitan Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. MCC 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.
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 full report on Design & Applied Arts at Metropolitan Community College
With a ranking of #6, McPherson College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. McPherson, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at McPherson College
Alexandria Technical & Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #7. Alexandria Technical & Community College is a small public school situated in Alexandria, Minnesota. It awarded 21 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at ATCC
Iowa State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #8. Iowa State University is located in Ames, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 252 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 Iowa State University Design & Applied Arts Report
Tabor College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Hillsboro, Kansas, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 4 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Tabor College
Stephens College landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Stephens College is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
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%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Stephens College
Johnson County Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. Johnson County Community College is a fairly large school located in Overland Park, Kansas that handed out 91 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Johnson County Community College Design & Applied Arts Report
Dakota County Technical College landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Rosemount, Minnesota, and it awarded 23 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Dakota County Technical College
Luther College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #13. Luther College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Decorah, Iowa. It awarded 11 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 more about Design & Applied Arts at Luther
United Tribes Technical College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking. United Tribes Technical College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Bismarck, North Dakota. It awarded 2 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
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.
Full United Tribes Technical College Design & Applied Arts Report
Iowa Lakes Community College landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Iowa Lakes Community College is a small school located in Estherville, Iowa that handed out 7 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Iowa Lakes Community College
With a ranking of #16, Minneapolis Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 97 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Minneapolis Community and Technical College
With a ranking of #17, Drury University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. Springfield, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.
Full Drury University Design & Applied Arts Report
Bemidji State University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Bemidji State University is a small public school situated in Bemidji, Minnesota. It awarded 23 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
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%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Bemidji State University
With a ranking of #19, Oglala Lakota College did quite well on the 2023 Schools 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 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Oglala Lakota College Design & Applied Arts Report
With a ranking of #20, South Dakota State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. South Dakota State is a fairly large public school situated in Brookings, South Dakota. It awarded 48 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
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%.
Full South Dakota State Design & Applied Arts Report
Union College Nebraska landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 4 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Union College Nebraska
University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a public institution located in Duluth, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 44 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
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
Century College ranked #23 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. Century College is a public institution located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 62 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Century College
With a ranking of #24, Saint Louis Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 52 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Saint Louis Community College
University of Northern Iowa came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Cedar Falls, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 50 students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of Northern Iowa Design & Applied Arts Report
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