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2023 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Plains States Region

84 Ranked Colleges
1,453 Degrees Awarded
$33,545 Avg Salary
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region” ranking.

Design & Applied Arts is the 36th most popular major in the country with 36,323 degrees awarded in 2021-2022. In , design & applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $32,210 and had an average of $24,297 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 2,451 design & applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,725 and $20,632 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,453 design & applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,724 and $22,887 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 84 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in design & applied arts. That schools that top this list have a program in design & applied arts in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region”.

Top 26 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in the Plains States Region

1

Out of the 84 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Minneapolis College of Art and Design landed the #1 spot on the list. MCAD is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 54 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at MCAD

2
Kansas City Art Institute crest
Kansas City Art Institute
Kansas City, Missouri

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Kansas City Art Institute. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region. Kansas City Art Institute is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 41 bachelors’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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 Kansas City Art Institute

3

Out of the 84 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Stevens - The Institute of Business & Arts landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this small private for-profit school awarded 5 degrees to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

4
McPherson College crest
McPherson College
McPherson, Kansas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend McPherson College. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region. McPherson College is a small school located in McPherson, Kansas that handed out 5 bachelors’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at McPherson College

5
Tabor crest
Tabor College
Hillsboro, Kansas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Tabor College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. Tabor is a private not-for-profit institution located in Hillsboro, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Tabor College

6

Iowa State University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Ames, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s design degrees to 221 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, 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 88%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Iowa State

7
Stephens crest
Stephens College
Columbia, Missouri

Stephens College ranked #7 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. Located in Columbia, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad 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 Stephens College

8
Dunwoody College of Technology crest
Dunwoody College of Technology
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Dunwoody College of Technology landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 16 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Dunwoody College of Technology

9
Luther crest
Luther College
Decorah, Iowa

With a ranking of #9, Luther College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. Luther is a private not-for-profit institution located in Decorah, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% 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 Luther

10
Drury University crest
Drury University
Springfield, Missouri

Drury University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #10. This small school is located in Springfield, Missouri, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

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 Drury University

11
Bemidji State University crest
Bemidji State University
Bemidji, Minnesota

Bemidji State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #11. Bemidji State University is a public institution located in Bemidji, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%.

Full Bemidji State University Design & Applied Arts Report

12
South Dakota State crest
South Dakota State University
Brookings, South Dakota

With a ranking of #12, South Dakota State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. South Dakota State is located in Brookings, South Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 22 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at South Dakota State University

13
Union College crest
Union College Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska

With a ranking of #13, Union College Nebraska did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. Union College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lincoln, Nebraska. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate 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. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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%.

Full Union College Design & Applied Arts Report

14

University of Minnesota - Duluth ranked #14 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. UMN Duluth is a medium-sized school located in Duluth, Minnesota that handed out 40 bachelors’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.4% 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 University of Minnesota - Duluth

15

With a ranking of #15, University of Northern Iowa did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. University of Northern Iowa is a medium-sized school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 38 bachelors’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at University of Northern Iowa

16
BLC crest
Bethany Lutheran College
Mankato, Minnesota

With a ranking of #16, Bethany Lutheran College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. Located in Mankato, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 7 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full BLC Design & Applied Arts Report

17

University of Northwestern - St Paul ranked #17 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. University of Northwestern - St Paul is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.1% 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 University of Northwestern - St Paul

18
Augsburg crest
Augsburg University
Minneapolis, Minnesota

With a ranking of #18, Augsburg University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. Augsburg University is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 9 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Augsburg University

19
Bellevue University crest
Bellevue University
Bellevue, Nebraska

Bellevue University ranked #19 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. Located in Bellevue, Nebraska, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 49 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s design students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Bellevue University

20

Culver - Stockton College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #20. Culver - Stockton College is located in Canton, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 5 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

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%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Culver - Stockton

21

With a ranking of #21, Maryville University of Saint Louis did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. Maryville U is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 51 bachelors’s design degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Maryville University of Saint Louis Design & Applied Arts Report

22
Missouri Western crest
Missouri Western State University
Saint Joseph, Missouri

Missouri Western State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #22. Missouri Western State University is a public institution located in Saint Joseph, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 Missouri Western State University

23

Graceland University - Lamoni landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Graceland University - Lamoni is a small school located in Lamoni, Iowa that handed out 4 bachelors’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%.

Full Graceland University - Lamoni Design & Applied Arts Report

24

MidAmerica Nazarene University ranked #24 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. MidAmerica Nazarene University is a small school located in Olathe, Kansas that handed out 3 bachelors’s design degrees in 2021-2022.

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

Full MNU Design & Applied Arts Report

25
UJ crest
University of Jamestown
Jamestown, North Dakota

University of Jamestown landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Jamestown, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s design degrees to 3 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Jamestown Design & Applied Arts Report

25
Bethel College - North Newton crest
Bethel College - North Newton
North Newton, Kansas

With a ranking of #25, Bethel College - North Newton did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Design Major in the Plains States Region list. Bethel College - North Newton is a private not-for-profit institution located in North Newton, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 Bethel College - North Newton

Notes and References

References

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