2027 Best Value Digital Arts Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Digital Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/general-visual-performing-arts/digital-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 10 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value digital arts schools.
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2027 Best Value Digital Arts Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in digital arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Digital Arts Schools
Kirkwood Community College earned the #1 spot for value among digital arts schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,176, while out-of-state students pay about $8,220. Students borrow a median of $15,779 to complete the digital arts program here. Digital Arts graduates of Kirkwood Community College earn a median of $41,681 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,779 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Hennepin Technical College earned it the #2 place for digital arts. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,940. Students borrow a median of $17,887 to complete the digital arts program here. Digital Arts graduates of Hennepin Technical College earn a median of $52,059 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Iowa Central Community College earned it the #3 place for digital arts. Set in the town of Fort Dodge, Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,496, with out-of-state students paying around $7,788. Typical student debt for digital arts graduates is $16,135. Early-career digital arts graduates make about $39,624. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wichita State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value digital arts schools. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,684, compared with $19,869 for out-of-state students. Digital Arts graduates carry a median of $24,551 in student loans. Soon after graduation, digital arts degree recipients from Wichita State University generally make around $20,013. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value digital arts schools. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Digital Arts graduates carry a median of $22,386 in student loans. Early-career digital arts graduates make about $49,755. That is a strong return on a $22,386 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri State University Springfield earned the #6 position for value in digital arts this year. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Digital Arts graduates carry a median of $24,408 in student loans. Soon after graduation, digital arts degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $46,503. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Missouri State University Springfield admits about 90% of applicants.
Minnesota State University Moorhead placed #7 among the best values for digital arts. Located in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,428. Digital Arts graduates carry a median of $24,447 in student loans. Soon after graduation, digital arts degree recipients from Minnesota State University Moorhead generally make around $50,892. That is a strong return on a $24,447 median debt. The acceptance rate is 59%.
University Of Missouri Columbia placed #8 among the best values for digital arts. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,837 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Students borrow a median of $21,719 to complete the digital arts program here. Digital Arts graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $29,775 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,719 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Webster University placed #9 among the best values for digital arts. Webster University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,750. Digital Arts graduates carry a median of $25,939 in student loans. Digital Arts graduates of Webster University earn a median of $57,152 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,939 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #10 spot for digital arts value this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,398. Students borrow a median of $23,923 to complete the digital arts program here. Soon after graduation, digital arts degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota generally make around $65,183. That is a strong return on a $23,923 median debt. University Of St Thomas Minnesota admits about 85% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 ranked schools only.
- 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.