2026 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the The Plains States Region
Design & Applied Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their design & applied arts programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 138 schools to find the best for design & applied arts students.
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Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in the The Plains States Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the design & applied arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Design & Applied Arts
No school ranked higher than University Of Minnesota Twin Cities this year for design & applied arts. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 128 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $42,462 in their early career. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at University Of Nebraska Lincoln, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. University Of Nebraska Lincoln awarded about 54 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $38,585 early in their careers. University Of Nebraska Lincoln graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for University Of Nebraska Lincoln
Washington University In St Louis is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. Washington University In St Louis awarded about 63 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $33,615. Students borrow a median of $19,089 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Washington University In St Louis
Drake University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. There were roughly 16 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Drake University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $56,228 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,273.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Drake University
A rank of #5 makes Minnesota State University Mankato one of the top schools for design & applied arts. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates 54% of students within six years. Minnesota State University Mankato awarded about 11 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Minnesota State University Mankato earn around $53,088 in the first couple years of their career. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates carry a median of $25,260 in student loans.
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Kansas State University landed the #6 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Kansas State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $43,992 in their early career. Kansas State University graduates carry a median of $23,546 in student loans.
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Park University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Parkville. About 37% of students finish within six years. About 17 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Park University in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Park University earn around $46,340 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,750.
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Iowa State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 263 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Iowa State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $36,634 in their early career. Iowa State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Iowa State University
University Of Kansas landed the #9 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Kansas awarded about 71 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $37,508. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
See the full design & applied arts program report for University Of Kansas
University Of Northern Iowa placed #10 among the best design & applied arts schools. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $38,637. Students borrow a median of $25,100 to complete this degree.
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Maryville University Of Saint Louis earned the #11 position for design & applied arts this year. Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. There were roughly 44 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Maryville University Of Saint Louis in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Maryville University Of Saint Louis earn a median of $39,623 early in their careers. Maryville University Of Saint Louis graduates carry a median of $24,621 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Maryville University Of Saint Louis
Alexandria Technical And Community College came in at #12 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the town of Alexandria, Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 24 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Alexandria Technical And Community College in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Alexandria Technical And Community College earn a median of $31,830 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
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Dunwoody College Of Technology landed the #13 spot for design & applied arts this year. Dunwoody College Of Technology is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. Dunwoody College Of Technology graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Dunwoody College Of Technology in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Dunwoody College Of Technology earn a median of $40,302 early in their careers. Dunwoody College Of Technology graduates carry a median of $18,973 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Dunwoody College Of Technology
Johnson County Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Overland Park. Johnson County Community College awarded about 123 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Johnson County Community College generally make around $32,030. Students borrow a median of $13,625 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Johnson County Community College
Dakota County Technical College landed the #15 spot for design & applied arts this year. Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Rosemount. Dakota County Technical College awarded about 37 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Dakota County Technical College earn a median of $50,429 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,474 to complete this degree.
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Kirkwood Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Cedar Rapids. About 54 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Kirkwood Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Kirkwood Community College earn around $32,116 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,519 to complete this degree.
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Central Community College earned the #17 position for design & applied arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Grand Island. Central Community College awarded about 60 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Central Community College generally make around $43,218. Central Community College graduates carry a median of $10,277 in student loans.
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Bismarck State College landed the #18 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Bismarck, Bismarck State College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 16 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Bismarck State College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $61,364 in their early career. Bismarck State College graduates carry a median of $13,340 in student loans.
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Western Iowa Tech Community College came in at #19 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 15 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Western Iowa Tech Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Western Iowa Tech Community College earn around $35,742 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,886.
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University Of Missouri Kansas City came in at #20 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates 54% of students within six years. About 14 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Kansas City in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of Missouri Kansas City earn around $60,324 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,741.
See the full design & applied arts program report for University Of Missouri Kansas City
South Dakota State University earned the #21 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. There were roughly 37 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at South Dakota State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from South Dakota State University generally make around $35,944. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from South Dakota State University
North Dakota State University Main Campus landed the #22 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. There were roughly 17 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at North Dakota State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $41,846 in their early career. North Dakota State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from North Dakota State University Main Campus
Century College came in at #23 for design & applied arts this year. Century College is a large public school located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. About 100 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Century College in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Century College earn around $41,814 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Century College
Wayne State College came in at #24 for design & applied arts this year. Wayne State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Wayne. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. Wayne State College awarded about 11 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Wayne State College earn a median of $46,646 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,974 to complete this degree.
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University Of Central Missouri earned the #25 position for design & applied arts this year. University Of Central Missouri is a large public school located in the town of Warrensburg. University Of Central Missouri graduates 54% of students within six years. University Of Central Missouri awarded about 19 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Central Missouri generally make around $33,921. University Of Central Missouri graduates carry a median of $25,576 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Design & Applied Arts Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong design & applied arts education:
Narrow Design & Applied Arts Schools by State
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 138 schools evaluated.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
