Best colleges for Design and Applied Arts in Minnesota
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, University of Minnesota-Duluth and Minneapolis College of Art and Design are the top bachelor's Design and Applied Arts programs in Minnesota by graduate earnings. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $42,462, College Scorecard. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis College of Art and Design and Dakota County Technical College award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Minnesota: 157, 75 and 35 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 27 Minnesota colleges offer Design and Applied Arts and award 800 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Design and Applied Arts program focuses on the intersection of design and practical application, teaching students how to create aesthetically pleasing objects for everyday use. This program is ideal for individuals interested in…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,462 | 157 | 85% | — | $24,000 |
| 2 | University of Minnesota-Duluth Duluth Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,337 | 34 | 65% | — | $24,800 |
| 3 | Minneapolis College of Art and Design Minneapolis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $23,687 | 75 | 51% | $24,998 | $27,000 |
| 4 | Dunwoody College of Technology Minneapolis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $40,302 | 8 | 66% | $25,132 | — |
| 5 | Bemidji State University Bemidji Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $40,231 | 13 | 48% | — | $27,000 |
| 6 | Minnesota State University Moorhead Moorhead Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $38,587 | 4 | 57% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | University of Northwestern-St Paul Saint Paul Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $37,966 | 6 | 68% | $23,114 | — |
| 8 | Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $34,627 | 12 | 40% | — | — |
| 9 | Concordia University - Saint Paul Saint Paul Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $34,384 | 16 | 46% | $17,328 | — |
| 10 | St Catherine University Saint Paul Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $31,547 | 4 | 61% | $21,042 | — |
Top 4 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Century College White Bear Lake Public · Certificate | $43,778 | 91 | 31% | — | $15,000 |
| 2 | Alexandria Technical & Community College Alexandria Public · Associate degree | $31,830 | 28 | 60% | — | $12,000 |
| 3 | Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minneapolis Public · Associate degree | $40,230 | 124 | 20% | — | $18,601 |
| 4 | Rasmussen University - Minnesota St. Cloud Private for-profit · Associate degree Online | $32,246 | 65 | 53% | $19,944 | $28,722 |
Colleges awarding the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Minnesota
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis Public | 157 | $42,462 |
| 2 | Minneapolis College of Art and Design Minneapolis Private not-for-profit | 75 | $23,687 |
| 3 | Dakota County Technical College Rosemount Public | 35 | Not reported |
| 4 | University of Minnesota-Duluth Duluth Public | 34 | $31,337 |
| 5 | Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato Public | 17 | Not reported |
| 6 | Concordia University - Saint Paul Saint Paul Private not-for-profit | 16 | $34,384 |
| 7 | Bemidji State University Bemidji Public | 13 | $40,231 |
| 8 | Minnesota State Community and Technical College Fergus Falls Public | 13 | Not reported |
| 9 | Ridgewater College Willmar Public | 13 | Not reported |
| 10 | Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud Public | 12 | $34,627 |
ShowHide the other 17 Minnesota colleges offering Design and Applied Arts
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis Community and Technical College | Minneapolis | Public | 124 |
| Century College | White Bear Lake | Public | 91 |
| Rasmussen University - Minnesota (Online) | St. Cloud | Private for-profit | 65 |
| Alexandria Technical & Community College | Alexandria | Public | 28 |
| North Hennepin Community College | Brooklyn Park | Public | 17 |
| Rochester Community and Technical College | Rochester | Public | 14 |
| Augsburg University | Minneapolis | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Central Lakes College - Brainerd | Brainerd | Public | 11 |
| Riverland Community College | Austin | Public | 8 |
| Bethany Lutheran College | Mankato | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Bethel University | Saint Paul | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Dunwoody College of Technology | Minneapolis | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Minnesota North College | Hibbing | Public | 7 |
| University of Northwestern-St Paul | Saint Paul | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead | Moorhead | Public | 4 |
| St Catherine University | Saint Paul | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Hennepin Technical College | Brooklyn Park | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024).
Top skills
What Graphic Designers earn in Minnesota
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Design and Applied Arts programs in Minnesota.
Which Minnesota colleges award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees?+
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (157 graduates a year), Minneapolis College of Art and Design (75 graduates a year) and Dakota County Technical College (35 graduates a year) award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Minnesota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 27 Minnesota colleges offer Design and Applied Arts.
What is the best college for Design and Applied Arts in Minnesota?+
By graduate earnings, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities leads among bachelor's Design and Applied Arts programs in Minnesota, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $42,462, College Scorecard. University of Minnesota-Duluth and Minneapolis College of Art and Design follow. By degrees awarded, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is the largest, with 157 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Design and Applied Arts program in Minnesota has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities tops the list at $42,462. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Graphic Designers earn in Minnesota?+
The average annual wage for Graphic Designers in Minnesota is $68,280 (median $63,860), across about 5,570 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Design and Applied Arts program?+
The Design and Applied Arts program focuses on the intersection of design and practical application, teaching students how to create aesthetically pleasing objects for everyday use. This program is ideal for individuals interested in…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, speaking, critical thinking, writing, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Graphic Designers?+
The national job outlook is about +2.1% growth with around 20,000 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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