2025 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region

1

Iowa State University
Ames, IA

Every student pursuing a degree in design & applied arts needs to check out Iowa State University. Iowa State is a fairly large public university located in the city of Ames. A Best Colleges rank of #88 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Iowa State is a great university overall.

There were roughly 247 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the design & applied arts degree program at Iowa State University get $4,545 above the standard college grad with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

2

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN

Every student who is interested in design & applied arts has to take a look at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. UMN Twin Cities is a fairly large public university located in the city of Minneapolis. A Best Colleges rank of #45 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UMN Twin Cities is a great university overall.

There were approximately 141 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at UMN Twin Cities in the most recent year we have data available. Design & Applied Arts degree recipients from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities receive an earnings boost of around $9,479 over the average earnings of design & applied arts graduates.

3

Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO

Washington University in St Louis is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting a degree in design & applied arts. WUSTL is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Saint Louis. A Best Colleges rank of #21 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means WUSTL is a great university overall.

There were roughly 74 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at WUSTL in the most recent data year. After graduation, design degree recipients usually make about $33,615 in their early careers.

4

University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS

Any student pursuing a degree in design & applied arts needs to check out University of Kansas. Located in the small city of Lawrence, KU is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #192 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means KU is a great university overall.

There were roughly 83 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at KU in the most recent year we have data available. Those design & applied arts students who get their degree from University of Kansas make $4,525 more than the standard design student.

5

Johnson County Community College
Overland Park, KS

JCCC is a large public college located in the medium-sized city of Overland Park. A Best Colleges rank of #347 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means JCCC is a great college overall.

There were about 111 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at JCCC in the most recent year we have data available. After graduating, design degree recipients typically make around $32,030 in the first five years of their career.

6

University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA

UNI is a moderately-sized public university located in the city of Cedar Falls. A Best Colleges rank of #270 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UNI is a great university overall.

There were about 38 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at UNI in the most recent data year. Those design & applied arts students who get their degree from University of Northern Iowa make $5,654 more than the average design graduate.

7

Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Minneapolis, MN

Located in the large city of Minneapolis, MCAD is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

There were approximately 59 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at MCAD in the most recent data year. Graduates who receive their degree from the design program make about $23,687 in their early career salary.

8

Des Moines Area Community College
Ankeny, IA

DMACC is a very large public college located in the suburb of Ankeny. This college ranks 6th out of 37 schools for overall quality in the state of Iowa.

There were roughly 73 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at DMACC in the most recent data year. Graduates who receive their degree from the design program earn about $25,265 for their early career.

9

Luther College
Decorah, IA

Located in the town of Decorah, Luther is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. This college ranks 9th out of 37 schools for overall quality in the state of Iowa.

There were approximately 17 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Luther in the most recent data year.

10

Kansas City Art Institute
Kansas City, MO

Kansas City Art Institute is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City.

There were roughly 41 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Kansas City Art Institute in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the design program earn around $29,513 in the first couple years of their career.