2026 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in Missouri
[Graphic Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/graphic-design/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value graphic design schools.
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2026 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in Missouri
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the graphic design degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Graphic Design Schools
Saint Louis Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value graphic design schools in Missouri. Saint Louis Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Bridgeton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $6,990. Students borrow a median of $11,424 to complete the graphic design program here. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from Saint Louis Community College generally make around $25,929. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Missouri Western State University one of the best values for graphic design. Located in the city of Saint Joseph, Missouri Western State University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,545 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,455. Graphic Design graduates carry a median of $24,362 in student loans. Graphic Design 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.
Park University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value graphic design schools. Located in the suburb of Parkville, Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,116. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $20,750. Graphic Design graduates of Park University earn a median of $46,340 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in graphic design will find it at Northwest Missouri State University, which ranked #4. Northwest Missouri State University is a large public school located in the town of Maryville. In-state tuition and fees average $10,611, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $23,585. Graphic Design graduates of Northwest Missouri State University earn a median of $42,939 early in their careers. Set against $23,585 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Drury University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value graphic design schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Drury University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $36,745. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $26,641. Graphic Design graduates of Drury University earn a median of $37,267 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,641 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Stevens Institute Of Business And Arts ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value graphic design schools. Stevens Institute Of Business And Arts is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,332. Graduates go on to earn a median of $29,058 ten years after entry. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis placed #7 among the best values for graphic design. Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. In-state tuition and fees average $27,166. Students borrow a median of $24,621 to complete the graphic design program here. Graphic Design graduates of Maryville University Of Saint Louis earn a median of $39,623 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Maryville University Of Saint Louis admits about 95% of applicants.
Webster University earned the #8 position for value in graphic design this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,750. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $25,550. Early-career graphic design graduates make about $20,257. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Kansas City Art Institute earned the #9 position for value in graphic design this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, Kansas City Art Institute is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,550. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the graphic design program here. Early-career graphic design graduates make about $29,513. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
