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2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa

23 Ranked Colleges
545 Degrees Awarded
$30,100 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa

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 Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 36,301 people earned their degree in design and applied arts, making the major the 36th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, design and applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,426 and had an average of $25,481 in loans still to pay off.

Across Iowa, there were 545 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,807 and $23,790 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa” ranking, we looked at 23 colleges that offer a degree in design and applied arts. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their design and applied arts program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa” list to help you make the college decision.

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Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa”.

Top 23 Most Focused Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in Iowa

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa State University. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa. Iowa State is a large public school situated in Ames, Iowa. It awarded 252 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Full Iowa State Design & Applied Arts Report

2
Luther crest
Luther College
Decorah, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Luther College. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa. Luther College is a small school located in Decorah, Iowa that handed out 11 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

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 Luther Design & Applied Arts Report

3

Out of the 23 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Iowa Lakes Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. Iowa Lakes Community College is a small school located in Estherville, Iowa that handed out 7 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Iowa Lakes Community College

4
UNI crest
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa

Out of the 23 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Northern Iowa landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Northern Iowa is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 50 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%.

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

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hawkeye Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa list. Hawkeye Community College is a public institution located in Waterloo, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 15 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Hawkeye Community College

6

Graceland University - Lamoni landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa ranking. Graceland Lamoni is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lamoni, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Graceland Lamoni Design & Applied Arts Report

7

Des Moines Area Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa ranking. DMACC is a large school located in Ankeny, Iowa that handed out 87 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Full DMACC Design & Applied Arts Report

8
Briar Cliff crest
Briar Cliff University
Sioux City, Iowa

Briar Cliff University ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa list. Briar Cliff is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sioux City, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Briar Cliff University Design & Applied Arts Report

9
Drake crest
Drake University
Des Moines, Iowa

Drake University ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa list. This small school is located in Des Moines, Iowa, and it awarded 16 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Drake

10
Grand View University crest
Grand View University
Des Moines, Iowa

Grand View University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa ranking. Located in Des Moines, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 6 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Grand View University

11
UIU crest
Upper Iowa University
Fayette, Iowa

Upper Iowa University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa ranking. UIU is a small school located in Fayette, Iowa that handed out 15 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at UIU

12
Mount Mercy crest
Mount Mercy University
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Mount Mercy University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa ranking. This small school is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and it awarded 6 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Mount Mercy Design & Applied Arts Report

13
Wartburg crest
Wartburg College
Waverly, Iowa

Wartburg College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa ranking. Wartburg College is a small school located in Waverly, Iowa that handed out 3 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 Wartburg Design & Applied Arts Report

14
Morningside crest
Morningside College
Sioux City, Iowa

Morningside College ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa list. Sioux City, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Morningside College

15
Kirkwood Community College crest
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Kirkwood Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa ranking, coming in at #15. Kirkwood Community College is a fairly large school located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that handed out 22 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Kirkwood Community College

16
Simpson College crest
Simpson College
Indianola, Iowa

Simpson College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa ranking, coming in at #16. Indianola, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Simpson College

17
NWC crest
Northwestern College
Orange City, Iowa

With a ranking of #17, Northwestern College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa list. Orange City, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.

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%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at NWC

18
BVU crest
Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, Iowa

Buena Vista University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Storm Lake, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 4 degrees to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% 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%. 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.

Full Buena Vista University Design & Applied Arts Report

19
Dordt crest
Dordt University
Sioux Center, Iowa

With a ranking of #19, Dordt University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa list. Dordt is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sioux Center, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Dordt Design & Applied Arts Report

20
Clarke crest
Clarke University
Dubuque, Iowa

Clarke University ranked #20 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa list. Clarke University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dubuque, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 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 1.5% 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 Clarke University Design & Applied Arts Report

21
St. Ambrose University crest
Saint Ambrose University
Davenport, Iowa

Saint Ambrose University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa ranking. Davenport, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.

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 St. Ambrose University

22

Western Iowa Tech Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa list. Located in Sioux City, Iowa, this medium-sized public school handed out 21 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Western Iowa Tech Community College

23

Iowa Central Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Iowa ranking. Iowa Central Community College is a medium-sized school located in Fort Dodge, Iowa that handed out 2 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Iowa Central Community College

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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