2023 Best Value Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
34
Ranked Colleges
2,327
Degrees Awarded
$11,100
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.
Design & Applied Arts is the 36th most popular major in the country with 36,301 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, design and applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,426 and had an average of $25,481 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Plains States region, there were 2,327 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,239 and $24,704 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 34 colleges that offer a degree in design and applied arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great design and applied arts programs and 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Design & Applied Arts Schools
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Washington University in St Louis. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 74 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
WUSTL also took the #1 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend WUSTL is $2,446 for Plains States Region Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at WUSTL
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. UMN Twin Cities is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 130 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $8,609 for Plains States Region Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.
Full UMN Twin Cities Design & Applied Arts Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Metropolitan Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Omaha, Nebraska is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 82 students in 2020-2021.
MCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $3,257 for Plains States Region Design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Metropolitan Community College.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full MCC Design & Applied Arts Report
Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Iowa State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Iowa State University is located in Ames, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 252 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa State, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State is $11,427 for Plains States Region Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Iowa State
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. UMN Duluth is a public institution located in Duluth, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 44 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UMN Duluth did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UMN Duluth is $8,697 for Plains States Region Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at University of Minnesota - Duluth
With a ranking of #6, Bismarck State College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. BSC is a public institution located in Bismarck, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Bismarck State College is $6,399 for Plains States Region Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full BSC Design & Applied Arts Report
With a ranking of #7, Century College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and it awarded 62 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Century College, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Century College is $8,628 for plains states region design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Century College Design & Applied Arts Report
University of Northern Iowa did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. University of Northern Iowa is a medium-sized school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 50 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNI, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNI is $13,175 for plains states region design students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at UNI
Des Moines Area Community College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Ankeny, Iowa, this large public school handed out 87 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend DMACC is $8,122 for Plains States Region Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Des Moines Area Community College
Saint Louis Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Saint Louis Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 52 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Saint Louis Community College is $7,142 for plains states region design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Saint Louis Community College Design & Applied Arts Report
Alexandria Technical & Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Alexandria, Minnesota, this small public school awarded 21 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.
ATCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $11,538 for plains states region design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend ATCC.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full ATCC Design & Applied Arts Report
Johnson County Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Johnson County Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Overland Park, Kansas. It awarded 91 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
JCCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $12,627 for Plains States Region Design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Johnson County Community College.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Johnson County Community College
North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. North Dakota State University is a fairly large public school situated in Fargo, North Dakota. It awarded 12 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Dakota State University, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus is $12,735 for Plains States Region Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at North Dakota State University
University of Kansas ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. KU is a public institution located in Lawrence, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 72 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
KU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Kansas is $16,288 for plains states region design students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at KU
Bemidji State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Bemidji State University is located in Bemidji, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 23 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Bemidji State University, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Bemidji State University is $10,377 for plains states region design students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Bemidji State University
Minnesota State University - Moorhead ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. MSU Moorhead is a public institution located in Moorhead, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region design students whose families make $30-$48k list, MSU Moorhead has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for MSU Moorhead is $14,194 for plains states region design students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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%.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Minnesota State University - Moorhead
University of Nebraska - Lincoln came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Lincoln, Nebraska, and it awarded 38 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
UNL also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln is $13,453 for Plains States Region Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Full University of Nebraska - Lincoln Design & Applied Arts Report
Lindenwood University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Charles, Missouri, and it awarded 7 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lindenwood University, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,008 for plains states region design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Lindenwood University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Lindenwood University
Saint Cloud State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #19. Saint Cloud State University is a public institution located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 17 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Saint Cloud State University is $10,825 for Plains States Region Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Saint Cloud State University
University of Central Missouri landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Central Missouri is a public institution located in Warrensburg, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 37 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UCM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Central Missouri is $12,120 for plains states region design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Design & Applied Arts at UCM
Minneapolis Community and Technical College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Minneapolis Community and Technical College is a medium-sized school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 97 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Minneapolis Community and Technical College is $12,589 for Plains States Region Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Minneapolis Community and Technical College Design & Applied Arts Report
Bellevue University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Bellevue University is a fairly large school located in Bellevue, Nebraska that handed out 54 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.
Bellevue University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $17,911 for plains states region design students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Bellevue University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Bellevue University
Wichita State University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. WSU is a public institution located in Wichita, Kansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 28 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Wichita State University is $12,272 for plains states region design students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Wichita State University Design & Applied Arts Report
With a ranking of #24, South Dakota State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Brookings, South Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 48 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at South Dakota State, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend South Dakota State University is $14,846 for Plains States Region Design students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at South Dakota State University
Kansas State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #25. Kansas State University is located in Manhattan, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 ’s design degrees to qualified students.
K -State also took the #24 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend K -State is $14,653 for plains states region design students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Full Kansas State University Design & Applied Arts Report
