2026 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Minnesota
Design & Applied Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 31 schools to find the best for design & applied arts students.
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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
Leading the list is University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, our #1 school for 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. About 128 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent 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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Minnesota State University Mankato is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in design & applied arts, ranking #2. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 11 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $53,088. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates carry a median of $25,260 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for 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. 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. Alexandria Technical And Community College graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes Dunwoody College Of Technology one of the top schools for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Dunwoody College Of Technology is a small private not-for-profit university. About 86% of students finish 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. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $40,302 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,973 to complete this degree.
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Dakota County Technical College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Rosemount. About 37 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Dakota County Technical College in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Dakota County Technical College earn a median of $50,429 early in their careers. Dakota County Technical College graduates carry a median of $13,474 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Dakota County Technical College
Century College placed #6 among the best design & applied arts schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. There were roughly 100 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Century College in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Century College earn a median of $41,814 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
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University Of Minnesota Duluth placed #7 among the best design & applied arts schools. University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public school located in the city of Duluth. About 65% of students finish within six years. University Of Minnesota Duluth awarded about 26 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Duluth generally make around $31,337. University Of Minnesota Duluth graduates carry a median of $24,800 in student loans.
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Minneapolis Community And Technical College came in at #8 for design & applied arts this year. Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Minneapolis. There were roughly 117 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Minneapolis Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Minneapolis Community And Technical College earn around $40,230 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,601.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Minneapolis Community And Technical College
Minnesota State Community And Technical College came in at #9 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. Minnesota State Community And Technical College awarded about 10 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Minnesota State Community And Technical College earn a median of $42,972 early in their careers. Minnesota State Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $18,197 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Minnesota State Community And Technical College
North Hennepin Community College earned the #10 position for design & applied arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. North Hennepin Community College awarded about 16 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from North Hennepin Community College earn around $52,492 in the first couple years of their career. North Hennepin Community College graduates carry a median of $21,241 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from North Hennepin Community College
Minnesota State University Moorhead came in at #11 for design & applied arts this year. Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Moorhead. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 15 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Moorhead in the most recent year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead earn around $38,587 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Minnesota State University Moorhead
Rochester Community And Technical College earned the #12 position for design & applied arts this year. Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rochester. About 13 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Rochester Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Rochester Community And Technical College earn a median of $47,439 early in their careers. Rochester Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $20,291 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Rochester Community And Technical College
Minneapolis College Of Art And Design came in at #13 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. Minneapolis College Of Art And Design graduates 51% of students within six years. There were roughly 82 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Minneapolis College Of Art And Design in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Minneapolis College Of Art And Design generally make around $23,687. Minneapolis College Of Art And Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Minneapolis College Of Art And Design
Saint Cloud State University earned the #14 position for design & applied arts this year. Saint Cloud State University is a large public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. Saint Cloud State University graduates 39% of students within six years. About 21 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Saint Cloud State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Saint Cloud State University generally make around $34,627. Saint Cloud State University graduates carry a median of $25,076 in student loans.
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Rasmussen College Minnesota placed #15 among the best design & applied arts schools. This large private for-profit university is located in the city of St. Cloud. Rasmussen College Minnesota awarded about 32 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Rasmussen College Minnesota earn around $32,364 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $32,080.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Rasmussen College Minnesota
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 31 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.
