2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2019-2020, 36,854 people earned their degree in design and applied arts, making the major the 34th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, design and applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $29,542 and had an average of $27,114 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Plains States region, there were 2,352 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,931 and $22,419 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 558 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,069 and $19,434 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 23 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in design and applied arts. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent design and applied arts programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the design and applied arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 23 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Metropolitan Community College landed the #1 spot on the list. Metropolitan Community College is a fairly large school located in Omaha, Nebraska that handed out 54 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at MCC, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $2,894 for plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Metropolitan Community College.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Metropolitan Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bismarck State College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Bismarck, North Dakota, this small public school handed out 13 diplomas to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.
BSC also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend Bismarck State College is $6,205 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Alexandria Technical & Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. ATCC is a small school located in Alexandria, Minnesota that handed out 32 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
ATCC also took the #1 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Alexandria Technical & Community College is $10,676 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Alexandria Technical & Community College Design & Applied Arts Report
Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Southeast Community College Area landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, this medium-sized public school handed out 2 degrees to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southeast Community College, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $6,946 for plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Southeast Community College.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Southeast Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend North Hennepin Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, and it awarded 11 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Hennepin Community College, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Hennepin Community College is $8,674 for plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full North Hennepin Community College Design & Applied Arts Report
Northeast Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Norfolk, Nebraska, this medium-sized public school handed out 12 diplomas to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k list, Northeast has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northeast is $6,726 for plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Northeast Community College
Saint Louis Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Saint Louis Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 38 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
Saint Louis Community College also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Louis Community College is $5,930 for plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Saint Louis Community College
Des Moines Area Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Des Moines Area Community College is a public institution located in Ankeny, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 33 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
DMACC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Des Moines Area Community College is $7,776 for plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Des Moines Area Community College
Century College landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school handed out 37 degrees to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.
Century College also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend Century College is $9,460 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Kirkwood Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and it awarded 13 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
Kirkwood Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Kirkwood Community College is $8,067 for plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Kirkwood Community College Design & Applied Arts Report
With a ranking of #11, Johnson County Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Johnson County Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Overland Park, Kansas. It awarded 77 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at JCCC, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for JCCC is $11,063 for plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Johnson County Community College Design & Applied Arts Report
With a ranking of #12, Western Iowa Tech Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Sioux City, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.
Western Iowa Tech Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Western Iowa Tech Community College is $5,665 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Western Iowa Tech Community College
With a ranking of #13, Dakota County Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Rosemount, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at DCTC, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Dakota County Technical College is $8,042 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Hennepin Technical College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Brooklyn Park, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Hennepin Technical College, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,295 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Hennepin Technical College.
Full Hennepin Technical College Design & Applied Arts Report
Washburn University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Washburn University is a public institution located in Topeka, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 10 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Washburn University, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,054 for plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Washburn University.
University of South Dakota did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. Vermillion, South Dakota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at USD, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for USD is $14,517 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low student loan default rate of 4.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
With a ranking of #17, Iowa Central Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Fort Dodge, Iowa, this small public school awarded 5 diplomas to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.
Iowa Central Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Iowa Central Community College is $7,979 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Iowa Central Community College Design & Applied Arts Report
Minneapolis Community and Technical College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. Minneapolis Community and Technical College is a medium-sized school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 32 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k list, Minneapolis Community and Technical College has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,411 for plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Minneapolis Community and Technical College.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Minneapolis Community and Technical College
With a ranking of #19, Rasmussen University - Minnesota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a small private for-profit school situated in St. Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 22 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
Rasmussen University - Minnesota also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #18. It costs about $17,479 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Rasmussen University - Minnesota.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Rasmussen University - Minnesota Design & Applied Arts Report
Dunwoody College of Technology landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 5 degrees to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.
Dunwoody College of Technology not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Dunwoody College of Technology is $21,534 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Dunwoody College of Technology
Rasmussen University - North Dakota landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Fargo, North Dakota, this small private for-profit school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.
Rasmussen University - North Dakota also took the #20 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Rasmussen University - North Dakota is $18,180 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Rasmussen University - North Dakota
With a ranking of #22, Stevens - The Institute of Business & Arts did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associates’s design degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.
Siba not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Stevens - The Institute of Business & Arts is $16,614 for plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Rasmussen University - Kansas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. Rasmussen University - Kansas is a small private for-profit school situated in Topeka, Kansas. It awarded 5 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.
Rasmussen University - Kansas did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Rasmussen University - Kansas is $18,908 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Rasmussen University - Kansas
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Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region
Design & Applied Arts students in the Plains States Region
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Design & Applied Arts students in the Plains States Region
Most Popular Associate Degree Online Design & Applied Arts Schools
Design & Applied Arts students in the Plains States Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
Design & Applied Arts students with family income less than $30k in the Plains States Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region
Design & Applied Arts students with family income $48-$75k in the Plains States Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region
Design & Applied Arts students with family income exceeding $110k in the Plains States Region
Highest Paid Associate Degree Design & Applied Arts Graduates in the Plains States Region
Design & Applied Arts students in the Plains States Region
Most Popular Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Plains States Region
Design & Applied Arts students in the Plains States Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Plains States Region (With Aid)
Design & Applied Arts students getting aid in the Plains States Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Design & Applied Arts students with family income $30-$48k in the Plains States Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $75-$110k) in the Plains States Region
Design & Applied Arts students with family income $75-$110k in the Plains States Region
Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
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