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2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

24 Ranked Colleges
558 Degrees Awarded
$24,736 Avg Salary
Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Design & Applied Arts is the 34th most popular major in the country with 36,854 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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.

For this year’s “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 24 colleges that offer a degree 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.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the design and applied arts program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 “Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 24 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Metropolitan Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. MCC is a fairly large school located in Omaha, Nebraska that handed out 54 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

MCC also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $5,641 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend MCC.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at MCC

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Alexandria Technical & Community College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Alexandria Technical & Community College is a small school located in Alexandria, Minnesota that handed out 32 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

ATCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $12,783 for plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend ATCC.

Full ATCC Design & Applied Arts Report

#3

Bismarck State College

Bismarck, North Dakota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bismarck State College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Bismarck, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k list, BSC has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $9,211 for plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Bismarck State College.

Full Bismarck State College Design & Applied Arts Report

#4

North Hennepin Community College

Brooklyn Park, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend North Hennepin Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. North Hennepin Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. It awarded 11 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

North Hennepin Community College also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend North Hennepin Community College is $10,810 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at North Hennepin Community College

#5

Century College

White Bear Lake, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Century College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Century College is a medium-sized public school situated in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. It awarded 37 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Century College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Century College is $10,956 for plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Century College Design & Applied Arts Report

With a ranking of #6, Des Moines Area Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Ankeny, Iowa, and it awarded 33 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k list, DMACC has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Des Moines Area Community College is $10,468 for plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full DMACC Design & Applied Arts Report

Southeast Community College Area ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Southeast Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Lincoln, Nebraska. It awarded 2 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Southeast Community College also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #19. The yearly cost to attend Southeast Community College Area is $9,430 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Southeast Community College Area

#8

Northeast Community College

Norfolk, Nebraska

With a ranking of #8, Northeast Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Northeast is a medium-sized school located in Norfolk, Nebraska that handed out 12 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeast did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $9,455 for plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Northeast Community College.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Northeast Community College

#9

Saint Louis Community College

Saint Louis, Missouri

Saint Louis Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 38 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Saint Louis Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Louis Community College is $9,052 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Saint Louis Community College Design & Applied Arts Report

#10

Hennepin Technical College

Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
#10 in overall quality

Hennepin Technical College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #10. This small school is located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, and it awarded 6 associates’s design degrees 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 $12,200 for plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Hennepin Technical College.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Hennepin Technical College

#11

Dakota County Technical College

Rosemount, Minnesota

With a ranking of #11, 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 $48-$75k list. Located in Rosemount, Minnesota, this small public school awarded 16 degrees to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.

DCTC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,822 for plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Dakota County Technical College.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Dakota County Technical College

#12

Johnson County Community College

Overland Park, Kansas

Johnson County Community College landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. JCCC is a public institution located in Overland Park, Kansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 77 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

JCCC also took the #3 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend JCCC is $13,606 for plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Johnson County Community College Design & Applied Arts Report

Western Iowa Tech Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Western Iowa Tech Community College is located in Sioux City, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 associates’s design degrees to qualified students.

Western Iowa Tech Community College also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #17. The estimated yearly cost for Western Iowa Tech Community College is $7,939 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Western Iowa Tech Community College Design & Applied Arts Report

#14

Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Kirkwood Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Cedar Rapids, Iowa is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s design degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

Kirkwood Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #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 $11,535 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Kirkwood Community College

Minneapolis Community and Technical College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Minneapolis Community and Technical College is a medium-sized public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 32 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

Minneapolis Community and Technical College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Minneapolis Community and Technical College is $13,639 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Minneapolis Community and Technical College Design & Applied Arts Report

#16

Washburn University

Topeka, Kansas
#9 in overall quality

Washburn University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Topeka, Kansas, this medium-sized public school handed out 10 degrees to qualified associates’s design students 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 $15,492 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Washburn University.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Washburn University

Iowa Central Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Fort Dodge, Iowa, this small public school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified associates’s design students in 2019-2020.

Iowa Central Community College also made our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #21. The yearly cost to attend Iowa Central Community College is $11,400 for plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Iowa Central Community College Design & Applied Arts Report

#18

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota
#2 in overall quality

University of South Dakota landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. USD is a public institution located in Vermillion, South Dakota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

USD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $18,850 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of South Dakota.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of South Dakota

#19

Dunwoody College of Technology

Minneapolis, Minnesota

With a ranking of #19, Dunwoody College of Technology did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associates’s design degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Dunwoody College of Technology, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Dunwoody College of Technology is $24,772 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Dunwoody College of Technology Design & Applied Arts Report

#20

Rasmussen University - Minnesota

St. Cloud, Minnesota
#18 in overall quality

Rasmussen University - Minnesota did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #20. Located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, this small private for-profit school awarded 22 diplomas to qualified associates’s design students 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. The estimated yearly cost for Rasmussen University - Minnesota is $19,054 for plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Rasmussen University - Minnesota

#20 in overall quality

Rasmussen University - North Dakota ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Rasmussen University - North Dakota is a private for-profit institution located in Fargo, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Rasmussen University - North Dakota did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $20,088 for plains states region associate degree design students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Rasmussen University - North Dakota.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Rasmussen University - North Dakota

#23 in overall quality

Stevens - The Institute of Business & Arts ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Stevens - The Institute of Business & Arts is a small school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 3 associates’s design degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Siba, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Stevens - The Institute of Business & Arts

#24 in overall quality

Rasmussen University - Kansas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Topeka, Kansas, this small private for-profit school handed out 5 degrees 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 $48-$75k list, Rasmussen University - Kansas has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking.

Full Rasmussen University - Kansas Design & Applied Arts Report

#24

The Creative Center

Omaha, Nebraska
#22 in overall quality

The Creative Center came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Design Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Creative Center is a private for-profit institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Creative Center did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Design & Applied Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Creative Center is $39,734 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Design students whose families make $48-$75k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at The Creative Center

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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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