by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2025, College Factual analyzed 13 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 592 associate degrees in design & applied arts during the 2022-2023 academic year.
What's on this page: * Our Methodology
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts
Translate your creative ideas through concept, design and digital media with a bachelor's in graphic design online from Southern New Hampshire University.
Take the first step toward a career of visual expression and doing what you love with this online associate degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
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The design associate degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality design program can vary widely even among the top schools. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To take this into account we consider a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a collection of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
Average early-career salary of those graduating with their associate degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. That is, everyone wants their associate degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.
The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for design & applied arts students working on their associate degree.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Take the first step toward a career of visual expression and doing what you love with this online associate degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
The following list ranks the best colleges and universities for pursuing an associate degree in design & applied arts.
Johnson County Community College is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting an associate degree in design & applied arts. JCCC is a fairly large public college located in the city of Overland Park.
Associate graduates who receive their degree from the design program earn about $32,030 for their early career.
More information about a associate in design & applied arts from Johnson County Community College
It's hard to beat Des Moines Area Community College if you wish to pursue an associate degree in design & applied arts. DMACC is a very large public college located in the suburb of Ankeny.
Associate students who receive their degree from the design program make an average of $25,265 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a associate in design & applied arts from Des Moines Area Community College
Minneapolis Community and Technical College is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting an associate degree in design & applied arts. Located in the large city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community and Technical College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
Design & Applied Arts associate degree recipients from Minneapolis Community and Technical College get an earnings boost of around $8,058 over the typical income of design & applied arts majors.
More information about a associate in design & applied arts from Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Every student pursuing a degree in an associate degree in design & applied arts needs to take a look at Alexandria Technical & Community College. ATCC is a small public college located in the town of Alexandria.
Soon after graduation, design associate recipients typically earn about $31,830 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a associate in design & applied arts from Alexandria Technical & Community College
Century College is a medium-sized public college located in the suburb of White Bear Lake.
Design & Applied Arts associate degree recipients from Century College receive an earnings boost of about $7,678 above the typical income of design & applied arts graduates.
More information about a associate in design & applied arts from Century College
Located in the city of Omaha, MCC is a public college with a large student population.
Students who graduate with their associate from the design program report average early career wages of $29,902.
More information about a associate in design & applied arts from Metropolitan Community College
DCTC is a small public college located in the rural area of Rosemount.More information about a associate in design & applied arts from Dakota County Technical College
Located in the small city of Bismarck, BSC is a public college with a small student population.More information about a associate in design & applied arts from Bismarck State College
Kirkwood Community College is a large public college located in the city of Cedar Rapids.
Associate students who receive their degree from the design program earn an average of $32,116 in their early career salary.
More information about a associate in design & applied arts from Kirkwood Community College
Located in the town of Norfolk, Northeast is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.More information about a associate in design & applied arts from Northeast Community College
Explore the best design & applied arts schools for a specific state in the Plains States Region .
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 151 | 164 |
| Kansas | 146 | 85 |
| Missouri | 117 | 75 |
| Iowa | 116 | 90 |
| Nebraska | 98 | 104 |
| South Dakota | 93 | 6 |
| North Dakota | 92 | 14 |
Design & Applied Arts is one of 10 different types of Visual & Performing Arts programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Graphic Design | 178 |
| Commercial & Advertising Art | 169 |
| Interior Design | 146 |
| Commercial Photography | 38 |
| Visual Communications | 27 |
| Game & Interactive Media Design | 16 |
| Fashion Design | 9 |
| Other Design & Applied Arts | 9 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Fine & Studio Arts | 103 |
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 78 |
| General Visual & Performing Arts | 42 |
| Music | 41 |
| Drama & Theater Arts | 29 |
| Dance | 2 |
| Arts & Media Management | 2 |
| Other Visual Art | 1 |
