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2027 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the The Plains States Region

56 Colleges in the United States
2,323 Design & Applied Arts Degrees Awarded
$40,027 Avg Early-Career Salary

Design & Applied Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their design & applied arts programs.

College Factual analyzed 56 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best design & applied arts schools.

What’s on this page:

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

1

Washington University In St Louis is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in design & applied arts. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 80 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent 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. Get the full design & applied arts details for Washington University In St Louis

2

University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. 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 157 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $42,462 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,000. Read more about the design & applied arts program at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities

3

Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at University Of Nebraska Lincoln, which ranked #3. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 54 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Nebraska Lincoln in the most recent 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. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from University Of Nebraska Lincoln

4

A rank of #4 makes University Of Missouri Columbia one of the top schools for design & applied arts. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. About 75% of students finish within six years. University Of Missouri Columbia awarded about 15 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of Missouri Columbia earn around $53,134 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,818 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from University Of Missouri Columbia

5

Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Minnesota State University Mankato awarded about 17 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $53,088 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,260 to complete this degree. Get the full design & applied arts details for Minnesota State University Mankato

6

Kansas State University placed #6 among the best design & applied arts schools. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. Kansas State University graduates 71% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Kansas State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $43,992. Typical student debt for the program is $23,546. Read more about the design & applied arts program at Kansas State University

7
Drake University crest
Drake University
Des Moines, IA

Drake University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 73% of students finish within six years. About 10 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Drake University in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $56,228 in their early career. Drake University graduates carry a median of $22,273 in student loans. See the full design & applied arts program report for Drake University

8
University Of Kansas crest
University Of Kansas
Lawrence, KS

University Of Kansas earned the #8 position for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 87 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Kansas in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of Kansas earn around $37,508 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Kansas graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Get the full design & applied arts details for University Of Kansas

9

University Of Nebraska At Kearney earned the #9 position for design & applied arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Kearney. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nebraska At Kearney in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of Nebraska At Kearney earn around $46,744 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,173. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from University Of Nebraska At Kearney

10

Maryville University Of Saint Louis landed the #10 spot for design & applied arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. Maryville University Of Saint Louis awarded about 45 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Maryville University Of Saint Louis earn around $39,623 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,621. Read more about the design & applied arts program at Maryville University Of Saint Louis

11

Alexandria Technical And Community College landed the #11 spot for design & applied arts this year. Located in the town of Alexandria, Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 28 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Alexandria Technical And Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Alexandria Technical And Community College earn around $31,830 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000. Get the full design & applied arts details for Alexandria Technical And Community College

12

Iowa State University landed the #12 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 203 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Iowa State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $36,634. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Iowa State University

13

Johnson County Community College earned the #13 position for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Overland Park. There were roughly 101 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Johnson County Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $32,030 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,625 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Johnson County Community College

14
Kirkwood Community College crest
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, IA

Kirkwood Community College landed the #14 spot for design & applied arts this year. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. There were roughly 56 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Kirkwood Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $32,116 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,519 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Kirkwood Community College

15

University Of Northern Iowa earned the #15 position for design & applied arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Cedar Falls. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 27 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. University Of Northern Iowa graduates carry a median of $25,100 in student loans. Get the full design & applied arts details for University Of Northern Iowa

16

Dakota County Technical College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the rural area of Rosemount, Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. About 35 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Dakota County Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Dakota County Technical College earn around $50,429 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,474 to complete this degree. Read more about the design & applied arts program at Dakota County Technical College

17
Augsburg College crest
Augsburg College
Minneapolis, MN

Augsburg College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Augsburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 11 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Augsburg College in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $59,409 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,319 to complete this degree. See the full design & applied arts program report for Augsburg College

18
Luther College crest
Luther College
Decorah, IA

Luther College came in at #18 for design & applied arts this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Decorah. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Luther College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Luther College generally make around $42,426. Luther College graduates carry a median of $26,967 in student loans. Get the full design & applied arts details for Luther College

19
Park University crest
Park University
Parkville, MO

Park University landed the #19 spot for design & applied arts this year. Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Parkville. Roughly 37% of students complete a degree within six years here. Park University awarded about 20 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Park University generally make around $46,340. Typical student debt for the program is $20,750. See the full design & applied arts program report for Park University

20

Bismarck State College placed #20 among the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Bismarck, Bismarck State College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 20 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Bismarck State College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Bismarck State College earn around $61,364 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,340 to complete this degree. See the full design & applied arts program report for Bismarck State College

21
Benedictine College crest
Benedictine College
Atchison, KS

Benedictine College came in at #21 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the town of Atchison, Benedictine College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Benedictine College graduates 62% of students within six years. Benedictine College awarded about 14 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Benedictine College generally make around $46,255. Benedictine College graduates carry a median of $24,990 in student loans. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Benedictine College

22
Central Community College crest
Central Community College
Grand Island, NE

Central Community College came in at #22 for design & applied arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Grand Island. About 80 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Central Community College in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Central Community College earn a median of $43,218 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,277. Get the full design & applied arts details for Central Community College

23

University Of Central Missouri came in at #23 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Central Missouri awarded about 40 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. Typical student debt for the program is $25,576. See the full design & applied arts program report for University Of Central Missouri

24

Southeast Community College Area came in at #24 for design & applied arts this year. Southeast Community College Area is a large public school located in the city of Lincoln. There were roughly 15 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Southeast Community College Area in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $44,877 in their early career. Southeast Community College Area graduates carry a median of $14,935 in student loans. More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Southeast Community College Area

25

North Dakota State University Main Campus came in at #25 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. North Dakota State University Main Campus awarded about 19 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $41,846 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Read more about the design & applied arts program at North Dakota State University Main Campus

Rest of the Top 50 Design & Applied Arts Schools

These schools also placed among the best for design & applied arts this year:

26
27
28
29
30
31
32
Century College crest
Century College
White Bear Lake, MN
33
34
Lindenwood University crest
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, MO
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
Bellevue University crest
Bellevue University
Bellevue, NE
45
46
47
48
49
Webster University crest
Webster University
Saint Louis, MO
50

View All Design & Applied Arts Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 56 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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