2025 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in the Plains States Region

1

Iowa State University
Ames, IA

Every student pursuing a degree in design & applied arts needs to look into Iowa State University. Iowa State is a very large public university located in the city of Ames. A Best Colleges rank of #88 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Iowa State is a great university overall.

There were about 247 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the design & applied arts degree program at Iowa State University make $4,545 above the average college grad in this field when they enter the workforce.

2

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN

Any student pursuing a degree in design & applied arts needs to take a look at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. UMN Twin Cities is a very large public university located in the large city of Minneapolis. A Best Colleges rank of #45 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UMN Twin Cities is a great university overall.

There were roughly 141 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at UMN Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts degree recipients from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities get an earnings boost of about $9,479 over the typical income of design & applied arts majors.

3

Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO

Washington University in St Louis is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting a degree in design & applied arts. WUSTL is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Saint Louis. A Best Colleges rank of #21 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means WUSTL is a great university overall.

There were about 74 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at WUSTL in the most recent year we have data available. After graduation, design degree recipients generally make about $33,615 in the first five years of their career.

4

University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS

Any student pursuing a degree in design & applied arts has to look into University of Kansas. Located in the city of Lawrence, KU is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #192 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means KU is a great university overall.

There were about 83 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at KU in the most recent year we have data available. Those design & applied arts students who get their degree from University of Kansas earn $4,525 more than the average design graduate.

5

Johnson County Community College
Overland Park, KS

JCCC is a fairly large public college located in the medium-sized city of Overland Park. A Best Colleges rank of #347 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means JCCC is a great college overall.

There were about 111 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at JCCC in the most recent year we have data available. Soon after graduation, design degree recipients usually make about $32,030 at the beginning of their careers.

6

Drake University
Des Moines, IA

Drake is a small private not-for-profit university located in the midsize city of Des Moines. A Best Colleges rank of #340 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Drake is a great university overall.

There were roughly 15 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Drake in the most recent data year.

6

University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA

UNI is a medium-sized public university located in the small city of Cedar Falls. A Best Colleges rank of #270 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UNI is a great university overall.

There were about 38 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at UNI in the most recent year we have data available. Those design & applied arts students who get their degree from University of Northern Iowa earn $5,654 more than the typical design graduate.

7

Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Minneapolis, MN

Located in the large city of Minneapolis, MCAD is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

There were approximately 59 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at MCAD in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the design program earn about $23,687 in the first couple years of working.

8

Des Moines Area Community College
Ankeny, IA

DMACC is a very large public college located in the suburb of Ankeny. This college ranks 6th out of 37 schools for overall quality in the state of Iowa.

There were about 73 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at DMACC in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the design program earn around $25,265 in their early career salary.

9

Luther College
Decorah, IA

Located in the remote town of Decorah, Luther is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. This college ranks 9th out of 37 colleges for overall quality in the state of Iowa.

There were approximately 17 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Luther in the most recent data year.