Best colleges for Design and Applied Arts in Missouri
Ranked by graduate earnings
Park University, Maryville University of Saint Louis and University of Central Missouri are the top bachelor's Design and Applied Arts programs in Missouri by graduate earnings. Park University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,340, College Scorecard. Washington University in St Louis, Kansas City Art Institute and Maryville University of Saint Louis award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Missouri: 80, 47 and 45 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 24 Missouri colleges offer Design and Applied Arts and award 571 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 8 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 | Park University Parkville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,340 | 20 | 38% | $16,013 | $20,750 |
| 2 | Maryville University of Saint Louis Saint Louis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,623 | 45 | 66% | $24,921 | $24,621 |
| 3 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,921 | 40 | 54% | — | $25,576 |
| 4 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,695 | 42 | 58% | — | $26,477 |
| 5 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,615 | 80 | 94% | $14,126 | $19,089 |
| 6 | Kansas City Art Institute Kansas City Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,513 | 47 | 58% | $29,039 | $27,000 |
| 7 | Webster University Saint Louis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $20,257 | 35 | 64% | $25,090 | $25,550 |
| 8 | Missouri Western State University Saint Joseph Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $37,200 | 5 | 39% | — | — |
Top certificate or associate program
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 | Saint Louis Community College Bridgeton Public · Associate degree | $25,929 | 57 | 21% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Missouri
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 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis Private not-for-profit | 80 | $33,615 |
| 2 | Kansas City Art Institute Kansas City Private not-for-profit | 47 | $29,513 |
| 3 | Maryville University of Saint Louis Saint Louis Private not-for-profit | 45 | $39,623 |
| 4 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield Public | 42 | $33,695 |
| 5 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg Public | 40 | $33,921 |
| 6 | Lindenwood University Saint Charles Private not-for-profit | 38 | Not reported |
| 7 | Webster University Saint Louis Private not-for-profit | 35 | $20,257 |
| 8 | Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City Kansas City Public | 24 | Not reported |
| 9 | Park University Parkville Private not-for-profit | 20 | $46,340 |
| 10 | University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City Public | 17 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 14 Missouri colleges offering Design and Applied Arts
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Louis Community College | Bridgeton | Public | 57 |
| St Charles Community College | Cottleville | Public | 33 |
| Stevens-The Institute of Business & Arts | Saint Louis | Private for-profit | 17 |
| University of Missouri-Columbia | Columbia | Public | 15 |
| Drury University | Springfield | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Southeast Missouri State University | Cape Girardeau | Public | 11 |
| Stephens College | Columbia | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Northwest Missouri State University | Maryville | Public | 6 |
| Columbia College | Columbia | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Missouri Western State University | Saint Joseph | Public | 5 |
| Southwest Baptist University | Bolivar | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| College of the Ozarks | Point Lookout | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies | Springfield | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary | Kansas City | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024).
Top skills
What Graphic Designers earn in Missouri
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Design and Applied Arts programs in Missouri.
Which Missouri colleges award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees?+
Washington University in St Louis (80 graduates a year), Kansas City Art Institute (47 graduates a year) and Maryville University of Saint Louis (45 graduates a year) award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Missouri, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 24 Missouri colleges offer Design and Applied Arts.
What is the best college for Design and Applied Arts in Missouri?+
By graduate earnings, Park University leads among bachelor's Design and Applied Arts programs in Missouri, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,340, College Scorecard. Maryville University of Saint Louis and University of Central Missouri follow. By degrees awarded, Washington University in St Louis is the largest, with 80 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Design and Applied Arts program in Missouri has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Park University tops the list at $46,340. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Graphic Designers earn in Missouri?+
The average annual wage for Graphic Designers in Missouri is $59,660 (median $56,750), across about 4,500 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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