2025 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region
39
Colleges in the Plains States Region
2,451
Design Degrees Awarded
$32,983
Avg Early-Career Salary
Ranked #36 in popularity,
design & applied arts is one of the most sought-after degree programs in the nation. So, there are lots of possibilities to explore when you're trying to determine where you want to get your degree.
College Factual looked at 39 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 2,451 degrees in design & applied arts during the 2021-2022 academic year.
What's on this page: * Degree-Level Rankings
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Featured Design & Applied Arts Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
AA in Digital Photography
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.
Learn More
BA in Digital Photography
Learn to create a striking portfolio and hone the skills you need to succeed in the world of professional photography with this online digital photography degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Learn More
Choosing a Great Design & Applied Arts School
Your choice of design & applied arts school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. For our Best Overall Design & Applied Arts School rankings, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
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
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 the Plains States Region.
More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we've developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you.
Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Read more about College Factual's methodology.
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Featured Design & Applied Arts Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
AA in Digital Photography
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.
Learn More
BA in Digital Photography
Learn to create a striking portfolio and hone the skills you need to succeed in the world of professional photography with this online digital photography degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Learn More
Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in the Plains States Region
The schools below may not offer all types of design degrees so you may want to filter by degree level first. However, they are great for the degree levels they do offer.
10 Top Plains States Region Schools in Design
Every student pursuing a degree in design & applied arts needs to look into Iowa State University. Iowa State is a very large public university located in the city of Ames. A Best Colleges rank of #88 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Iowa State is a great university overall.
There were about 247 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the design & applied arts degree program at Iowa State University make $4,545 above the average college grad in this field when they enter the workforce.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Iowa State University
Any student pursuing a degree in design & applied arts needs to take a look at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. UMN Twin Cities is a very large public university located in the large city of Minneapolis. A Best Colleges rank of #45 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UMN Twin Cities is a great university overall.
There were roughly 141 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at UMN Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts degree recipients from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities get an earnings boost of about $9,479 over the typical income of design & applied arts majors.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
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 UniversityRelated Programs
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 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 year we have data available. After graduation, design degree recipients generally make about $33,615 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Washington University in St Louis
Any student pursuing a degree in design & applied arts has to look into University of Kansas. Located in the city of Lawrence, KU is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #192 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means KU is a great university overall.
There were about 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 earn $4,525 more than the average design graduate.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from University of Kansas
JCCC is a fairly 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. Soon after graduation, design degree recipients usually make about $32,030 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Johnson County Community College
Bachelor's Degree
Highest Degree Type
5th
Most Popular In IA
Drake is a small private not-for-profit university located in the midsize city of Des Moines. A Best Colleges rank of #340 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Drake is a great university overall.
There were roughly 15 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Drake in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Drake University
UNI is a medium-sized public university located in the small city of Cedar Falls. A Best Colleges rank of #270 out of 2,152 colleges 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 year we have data available. Those design & applied arts students who get their degree from University of Northern Iowa earn $5,654 more than the typical design graduate.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from University of Northern Iowa
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 UniversityRelated Programs
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 year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the design program earn about $23,687 in the first couple years of working.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Minneapolis College of Art and Design
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 about 73 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at DMACC in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the design program earn around $25,265 in their early career salary.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Des Moines Area Community College
Located in the remote town of Decorah, Luther is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. This college ranks 9th out of 37 colleges 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.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Luther College