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2025 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Missouri

9 Colleges in Missouri
511 Design Degrees Awarded
$32,983 Avg Early-Career Salary
Design & Applied Arts is of the hottest degree programs in the United States, coming in as the #36 most popular major in the country. This means there are lots of options to choose from when you decide to get your degree.

In 2025, College Factual analyzed 9 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Missouri ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 511 degrees in design & applied arts annually.

What's on this page: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great Design & Applied Arts School

Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Missouri Your choice of design & applied arts school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. We derive our Best Overall Design & Applied Arts School rankings by rolling up our degree-level rankings after weighting them by the number of degrees awarded at each school.

In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.

Design & Applied Arts Rankings by Degree Level

Associate Degrees in Design
Bachelor's Degrees in Design
Master's Degrees in Design

The design school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we've developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of the Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Missouri. If you'd like to restrict your choices to just one part of the country, you can filter this list by location.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

If you want to learn more about how we derive our rankings, see College Factual's Methodology.

Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in Missouri

Although we recommend filtering by degree level first, you can view the list below to see which schools give the educational experience for the design degree levels they offer.

Top Missouri Schools in Design

1
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
74 Design Degrees Awarded
$33,615 Median Starting Salary

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 colleges nationwide means WUSTL is a great university overall.

There were about 74 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at WUSTL in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the design program earn around $33,615 for their early career.

More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Washington University in St Louis

2
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
41 Design Degrees Awarded
$29,513 Median Starting Salary

Kansas City Art Institute is a great decision for students interested in a degree in design & applied arts. Kansas City Art Institute is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City.

There were approximately 41 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Kansas City Art Institute in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the design program state that they receive average early career wages of $29,513.

More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Kansas City Art Institute

Sponsored
Bachelors Degree Type
BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts Program Name

Translate your creative ideas through concept, design and digital media with a bachelor's in graphic design online from Southern New Hampshire University.

More information about a degree in BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts from Southern New Hampshire University

Related Programs

3
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
51 Design Degrees Awarded
17.6% Growth in Graduates

Every student pursuing a degree in design & applied arts has to take a look at Maryville University of Saint Louis. Maryville U is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Saint Louis. A Best Colleges rank of #319 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Maryville U is a great university overall.

There were about 51 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Maryville U in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the design & applied arts major at Maryville University of Saint Louis earn $6,640 above the standard graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Maryville University of Saint Louis

4
Lindenwood University crest
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, MO
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
15th Most Popular In MO
53.3% Growth in Graduates

Lindenwood University is a wonderful decision for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts. Located in the small city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population. This university ranks 13th out of 48 schools for overall quality in the state of Missouri.

There were roughly 15 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Lindenwood University in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Lindenwood University

5
Park University crest
Park University
Parkville, MO

Park University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Parkville. This university ranks 16th out of 48 schools for overall quality in the state of Missouri.

There were approximately 27 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Park University in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts degree recipients from Park University earn a boost of around $13,357 above the typical income of design & applied arts graduates.

More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Park University

6
Webster crest
Webster University
Saint Louis, MO
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
39 Design Degrees Awarded
23.1% Growth in Graduates

Webster is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Saint Louis. A Best Colleges rank of #273 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Webster is a great university overall.

There were about 39 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Webster in the most recent data year. Soon after graduating, design degree recipients usually make about $20,257 in their early careers.

More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Webster University

7
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
$33,921 Median Starting Salary

Located in the town of Warrensburg, UCM is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 21st out of 48 schools for overall quality in the state of Missouri.

There were about 25 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at UCM in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the design program report average early career earnings of $33,921.

More information about a degree in design & applied arts from University of Central Missouri

Sponsored
Associates Degree Type
AA in Digital Photography Program Name

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.

More information about a degree in AA in Digital Photography from Southern New Hampshire University

Related Programs

8
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
43 Design Degrees Awarded
25.6% Growth in Graduates

Missouri State is a very large public university located in the medium-sized city of Springfield. A Best Colleges rank of #575 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Missouri State is a great university overall.

There were roughly 43 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Missouri State in the most recent year we have data available. Soon after graduation, design degree recipients typically earn around $33,695 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Missouri State University - Springfield

9
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
46 Design Degrees Awarded
$25,929 Median Starting Salary

Located in the suburb of Bridgeton, Saint Louis Community College is a public college with a large student population. This college ranks 22nd out of 48 schools for overall quality in the state of Missouri.

There were about 46 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Saint Louis Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the design program make around $25,929 for their early career.

More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Saint Louis Community College

Best Design & Applied Arts Colleges in the Plains States Region

Explore all the Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Minnesota 284 533
Kansas 266 228
Iowa 264 479
Nebraska 238 223
North Dakota 210 36
South Dakota 204 57

View All Rankings >

One of 10 majors within the Visual & Performing Arts area of study, Design & Applied Arts has other similar majors worth exploring.

Design Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Graphic Design 159
Visual Communications 112
Commercial & Advertising Art 77
Interior Design 70
Game & Interactive Media Design 40
Illustration 33
Other Design & Applied Arts 12
Fashion Design 7
Industrial Design 1

View All Design Concentrations >

Related Major Annual Graduates
Fine & Studio Arts 487
Music 391
Drama & Theater Arts 304
Film, Video & Photographic Arts 154
General Visual & Performing Arts 126
Dance 32
Arts & Media Management 18

View All Design Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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