2027 Best Value Fashion Design Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Fashion Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/fashion-design/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong fashion design education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for fashion design students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Fashion Design Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the fashion design degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Fashion Design Schools
Metropolitan Community College Area earned the #1 spot for value among fashion design schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,375 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,950 for out-of-state students. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $12,526 in student loans. Fashion Design graduates of Metropolitan Community College Area earn a median of $29,902 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,526 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Minneapolis Community And Technical College earned it the #2 place for fashion design. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,161. Students borrow a median of $18,601 to complete the fashion design program here. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Minneapolis Community And Technical College generally make around $40,230. Set against $18,601 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in fashion design will find it at Johnson County Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,424, compared with $5,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,625 to complete the fashion design program here. Fashion Design graduates of Johnson County Community College earn a median of $32,030 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,625 median debt.
Lindenwood University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fashion design, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,600. Students borrow a median of $28,663 to complete the fashion design program here. Fashion Design graduates of Lindenwood University earn a median of $48,197 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,663 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Washington University In St Louis earned it the #5 place for fashion design. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. In-state tuition and fees average $65,790. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $19,089. Fashion Design graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $33,615 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Washington University In St Louis admits about 12% 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.