2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong design & applied arts education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 138 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value design & applied arts schools.
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2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the design & applied arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
Central Community College earned the #1 spot for value among design & applied arts schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Grand Island, Central Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,360 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,800. Students borrow a median of $10,277 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $43,218. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Metropolitan Community College Area one of the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,375 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,950 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $12,526 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $29,902. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kirkwood Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,176, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,519 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $32,116. That is a strong return on a $10,519 median debt.
Western Iowa Tech Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sioux City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,186, while out-of-state students pay about $5,330. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,886 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Western Iowa Tech Community College earn a median of $35,742 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Charles Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Cottleville, St Charles Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,810, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $12,606 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of St Charles Community College earn a median of $47,228 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeast Community College Area landed the #6 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,444 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,032. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $14,935. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Southeast Community College Area generally make around $44,877. That is a strong return on a $14,935 median debt.
Saint Louis Community College came in at #7 for value in design & applied arts this year. Saint Louis Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Bridgeton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, compared with $6,990 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,424 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Saint Louis Community College earn a median of $25,929 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,424 median debt.
Century College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Century College is a large public school located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,214. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $41,814. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bismarck State College earned the #9 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Bismarck State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bismarck. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,247, compared with $7,331 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $13,340. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Bismarck State College earn a median of $61,364 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,340 median debt.
North Hennepin Community College landed the #10 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, North Hennepin Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,061 in tuition and fees. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $21,241 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $52,492. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Iowa Central Community College landed the #11 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Fort Dodge. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,496, with out-of-state students paying around $7,788. Students borrow a median of $16,135 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $39,624. Set against $16,135 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Dakota County Technical College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the rural area of Rosemount, Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,679. Students borrow a median of $13,474 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Dakota County Technical College earn a median of $50,429 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,474 median debt.
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #13 for value in design & applied arts this year. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. In-state tuition and fees average $5,790, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $13,625 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $25,265 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,625 median debt.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College came in at #14 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the rural area of Fergus Falls, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,908. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $18,197 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Minnesota State Community And Technical College earn a median of $42,972 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hawkeye Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the rural area of Waterloo, Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,525, with out-of-state students paying around $6,612. Students borrow a median of $17,001 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $41,902. That is a strong return on a $17,001 median debt.
University Of Missouri Kansas City landed the #16 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,371, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $23,741. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $60,324 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,741 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Missouri Western State University earned the #17 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Saint Joseph, Missouri Western State University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,545, compared with $18,455 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,362 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Missouri Western State University earn a median of $37,200 early in their careers. Set against $24,362 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Johnson County Community College placed #18 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,424, while out-of-state students pay about $5,688. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $13,625. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Johnson County Community College earn a median of $32,030 early in their careers. Set against $13,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Alexandria Technical And Community College placed #19 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the town of Alexandria, Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,236 in tuition and fees. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Alexandria Technical And Community College earn a median of $31,830 early in their careers. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Washburn Institute Of Technology placed #20 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Topeka, Washburn Institute Of Technology is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,880. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,362 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Washburn Institute Of Technology earn a median of $39,749 early in their careers. Set against $11,362 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,161 in tuition and fees. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $18,601 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Minneapolis Community And Technical College earn a median of $40,230 early in their careers. Set against $18,601 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Northern Iowa came in at #22 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,936, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $25,100 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $38,637. That is a strong return on a $25,100 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Wichita State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Wichita State University is a large public school located in the city of Wichita. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,684, while out-of-state students pay about $19,869. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $26,000. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $33,590. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Rochester Community And Technical College earned the #24 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Rochester, Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,389 in tuition and fees. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $20,291 in student loans. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Rochester Community And Technical College earn a median of $47,439 early in their careers. Set against $20,291 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Park University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of Parkville, Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,116. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $20,750. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Park University generally make around $46,340. That is a strong return on a $20,750 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s design & applied arts value ranking:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 138 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 39 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
