2027 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the The Plains States Region
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.
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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
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Rest of the Top 50 Design & Applied Arts Schools
These schools also placed among the best for design & applied arts this year:
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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.
- 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.