2027 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Minnesota
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.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for design & applied arts students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in Minnesota
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall design & applied arts education in Minnesota.
Top Schools in Design & Applied Arts
Our analysis ranked University Of Minnesota Twin Cities the best school in the country for a degree in design & applied arts. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates 85% of students within six years. 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. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Minnesota State University Mankato is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $53,088 early in their careers. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates carry a median of $25,260 in student loans.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Minnesota State University Mankato
Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at Alexandria Technical And Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Alexandria, Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public university. About 28 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Alexandria Technical And Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Alexandria Technical And Community College generally make around $31,830. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
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Dakota County Technical College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the rural area of Rosemount, Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 35 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Dakota County Technical College in the most recent data 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. Dakota County Technical College graduates carry a median of $13,474 in student loans.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Dakota County Technical College
Augsburg College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in design & applied arts, ranking #5. Augsburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. About 52% of students finish within six years. Augsburg College awarded about 11 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $59,409 in their early career. Augsburg College graduates carry a median of $26,319 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Augsburg College
University Of Minnesota Duluth landed the #6 spot for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 34 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Duluth in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Duluth generally make around $31,337. Typical student debt for the program is $24,800.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from University Of Minnesota Duluth
Minneapolis Community And Technical College earned the #7 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a large public institution. There were roughly 124 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Minneapolis Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Minneapolis Community And Technical College generally make around $40,230. Minneapolis Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $18,601 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Minneapolis Community And Technical College
Century College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public university. There were roughly 91 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Century College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Century College generally make around $41,814. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
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Concordia University Saint Paul placed #9 among the best design & applied arts schools. Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. About 16 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Concordia University Saint Paul in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Concordia University Saint Paul earn a median of $34,384 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,026 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Concordia University Saint Paul
North Hennepin Community College landed the #10 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, North Hennepin Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. North Hennepin Community College awarded about 17 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from North Hennepin Community College generally make around $52,492. North Hennepin Community College graduates carry a median of $21,241 in student loans.
Get the full design & applied arts details for North Hennepin Community College
Minnesota State Community And Technical College came in at #11 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the rural area of Fergus Falls, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 13 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Minnesota State Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Minnesota State Community And Technical College earn around $42,972 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,197 to complete this degree.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Minnesota State Community And Technical College
Bemidji State University placed #12 among the best design & applied arts schools. Bemidji State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Bemidji. Bemidji State University graduates 46% of students within six years. Bemidji State University awarded about 13 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Bemidji State University earn around $40,231 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Bemidji State University
Minneapolis College Of Art And Design landed the #13 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 51% of students finish within six years. About 75 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Minneapolis College Of Art And Design in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Minneapolis College Of Art And Design generally make around $23,687. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Minneapolis College Of Art And Design
Rasmussen College Minnesota ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit school located in the city of St. Cloud. There were roughly 65 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Rasmussen College Minnesota in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Rasmussen College Minnesota earn a median of $32,364 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $32,080 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Rasmussen College Minnesota
Saint Cloud State University placed #15 among the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public university. Roughly 39% of students complete a degree within six years here. Saint Cloud State University awarded about 12 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $34,627 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,076.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Saint Cloud State University
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 15 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.
