2026 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Missouri
Design & Applied Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 32 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 Missouri
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall design & applied arts education in Missouri.
Top Schools in Design & Applied Arts
Washington University In St Louis tops our 2026 ranking of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 63 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $33,615 early in their careers. 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
Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at Park University, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Parkville, Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 37%. There were roughly 17 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Park University 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
Maryville University Of Saint Louis came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. About 66% of students finish within six years. Maryville University Of Saint Louis awarded about 44 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. Students borrow a median of $24,621 to complete this degree.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Maryville University Of Saint Louis
Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at University Of Missouri Kansas City, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Kansas City in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $60,324. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates carry a median of $23,741 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for University Of Missouri Kansas City
University Of Central Missouri came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. University Of Central Missouri is a large public school located in the town of Warrensburg. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Central Missouri awarded about 19 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of Central Missouri earn around $33,921 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,576.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from University Of Central Missouri
Missouri State University Springfield placed #6 among the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. About 58% of students finish within six years. Missouri State University Springfield awarded about 35 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Missouri State University Springfield earn around $33,695 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,477 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Missouri State University Springfield
Lindenwood University came in at #7 for design & applied arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Charles. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. There were roughly 27 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Lindenwood University in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Lindenwood University earn a median of $48,197 early in their careers. Lindenwood University graduates carry a median of $28,663 in student loans.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Lindenwood University
Missouri Western State University placed #8 among the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Saint Joseph, Missouri Western State University is a mid-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. Missouri Western State University awarded about 13 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $37,200 in their early career. Missouri Western State University graduates carry a median of $24,362 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Missouri Western State University
Northwest Missouri State University placed #9 among the best design & applied arts schools. Northwest Missouri State University is a large public school located in the town of Maryville. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. There were roughly 12 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Northwest Missouri State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $42,939 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,585 to complete this degree.
Get the full design & applied arts details for Northwest Missouri State University
St Charles Community College landed the #10 spot for design & applied arts this year. St Charles Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Cottleville. There were roughly 49 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at St Charles Community College in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of St Charles Community College earn a median of $47,228 early in their careers. St Charles Community College graduates carry a median of $12,606 in student loans.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from St Charles Community College
Kansas City Art Institute earned the #11 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, Kansas City Art Institute is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 57 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Kansas City Art Institute in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Kansas City Art Institute earn a median of $29,513 early in their careers. Kansas City Art Institute graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Kansas City Art Institute
Saint Louis Community College landed the #12 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the suburb of Bridgeton, Saint Louis Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 38 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Saint Louis Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Saint Louis Community College generally make around $25,929. Students borrow a median of $11,424 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Saint Louis Community College
Drury University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Drury University is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Drury University in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $37,267 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,641 to complete this degree.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Drury University
Webster University placed #14 among the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Webster University graduates 64% of students within six years. Webster University awarded about 34 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Webster University earn around $20,257 in the first couple years of their career. Webster University graduates carry a median of $25,550 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Webster University
Stevens Institute Of Business And Arts came in at #15 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Stevens Institute Of Business And Arts is a small private for-profit university. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Stevens Institute Of Business And Arts in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Stevens Institute Of Business And Arts
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
View All Design & Applied Arts Rankings >
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 · 32 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.
