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Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region

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2023 Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region

126 Colleges
$31,239 Avg Salary
$24,704 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Design & Applied Arts School for You

Design & Applied Arts is the #36 most popular major in the country with 36,301 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.

Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

The Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 126 schools in the Plains States Region to see which ones were the most popular programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Design & Applied Arts program at each school on the list.

Check out the design programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in the Plains States Region .

Our analysis found Iowa State University to be the most popular school for design and applied arts students who want to pursue a degree in the Plains States Region . Iowa State is a very large public school located in the city of Ames.

Design majors at Iowa State take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $262.

Full Design & Applied Arts at Iowa State University Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the city of Minneapolis, UMN Twin Cities is a public school with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, design graduates from UMN Twin Cities carry an average student debt load of $22,975. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $298.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Minneapolis Community and Technical College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region list. Minneapolis Community and Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the large city of Minneapolis.

After completing their degree, design graduates from Minneapolis Community and Technical College carry an average student debt load of $32,750.

Full Design & Applied Arts at Minneapolis Community and Technical College Report

#4

Johnson County Community College

Overland Park, KS

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Johnson County Community College is a great place for design and applied arts students. Located in the city of Overland Park, JCCC is a public college with a fairly large student population.

On average, design graduates from JCCC take out $11,449 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Johnson County Community College

Out of the 126 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Des Moines Area Community College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the large suburb of Ankeny, DMACC is a public school with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, design graduates from DMACC carry an average student debt load of $14,167.

Full Design & Applied Arts at Des Moines Area Community College Report

With a ranking of #6, Metropolitan Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for design and applied arts students. Located in the large city of Omaha, MCC is a public school with a large student population.

On average, design graduates from MCC take out $12,098 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Metropolitan Community College

Washington University in St Louis came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, WUSTL is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.

On average, design graduates from WUSTL take out $15,808 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Design & Applied Arts at Washington University in St Louis Report

#8

University of Kansas

Lawrence, KS

With a ranking of #8, University of Kansas did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for design and applied arts students. Located in the city of Lawrence, KU is a public college with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that design majors at KU take out is $24,500. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $283.

Read More…

Minneapolis College of Art and Design landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular design and applied arts programs. Located in the city of Minneapolis, MCAD is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

After completing their degree, design graduates from MCAD carry an average student debt load of $27,000. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $323, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Design & Applied Arts at Minneapolis College of Art and Design Report

#10

Century College

White Bear Lake, MN

Century College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for design and applied arts students. It came in at #10 on the list. Century College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of White Bear Lake.

Full Design & Applied Arts at Century College Report

#11

Bellevue University

Bellevue, NE

Bellevue University ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the large suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.

On average, design graduates from Bellevue University take out $29,510 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read More…

#12

Saint Louis Community College

Saint Louis, MO

With a ranking of #12, Saint Louis Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for design and applied arts students. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Saint Louis Community College is a public school with a large student population.

Design majors at Saint Louis Community College take out an average of $12,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Design & Applied Arts at Saint Louis Community College Report

#13

Kansas City Art Institute

Kansas City, MO

Kansas City Art Institute did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for design and applied arts students. It came in at #13 on the list. Located in the large city of Kansas City, Kansas City Art Institute is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

While working on their degree, design majors at Kansas City Art Institute accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Kansas City Art Institute

#14

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA

University of Northern Iowa ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the small city of Cedar Falls, UNI is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

After completing their degree, design graduates from UNI carry an average student debt load of $25,000.

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South Dakota State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. South Dakota State is a large public school located in the town of Brookings.

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#16

Central Community College

Grand Island, NE

With a ranking of #16, Central Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for design and applied arts students. Central Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the small city of Grand Island.

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With a ranking of #17, University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for design and applied arts students. UMN Duluth is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Duluth.

On average, design graduates from UMN Duluth take out $24,199 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read More…

Maryville University of Saint Louis landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular design and applied arts programs. Maryville U is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis.

The average amount in student loans that design majors at Maryville U take out is $24,324.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Maryville University of Saint Louis

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional popular schools for Design & Applied Arts students in the Plains States Region that almost earned our Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region award.

Rank College Location
19 University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NE
20 University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, MO
21 Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MO
22 Webster University Saint Louis, MO
23 Wichita State University Wichita, KS
24 Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology Wichita, KS
25 St Charles Community College Cottleville, MO

Best Design & Applied Arts Colleges by State

Explore the best design and applied arts colleges for a specific state in the Plains States region.

State Degrees Awarded
Missouri 432
Minnesota 533
Kansas 229
Iowa 481
Nebraska 223
North Dakota 36
South Dakota 57

One of 10 majors within the area of study, design and applied arts has other similar majors worth exploring.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Fine & Studio Arts 37,413
Music 25,910
Drama & Theater Arts 17,341
Film, Video & Photographic Arts 16,778
General Visual & Performing Arts 6,355

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 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 the rest 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.

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