2027 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Iowa
Design & Applied Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools to find the best for design & applied arts students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Design & Applied Arts in Iowa
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the design & applied arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Design & Applied Arts
Our analysis ranked Drake University the best school in the country for a degree in design & applied arts. Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. Drake University graduates 73% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Drake University in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Drake University earn a median of $56,228 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,273 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in design & applied arts from Drake University
Iowa State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in design & applied arts, ranking #2. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. Iowa State University graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 203 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $36,634 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full design & applied arts details for Iowa State University
A rank of #3 makes Kirkwood Community College one of the top schools for design & applied arts. This large public university is located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Kirkwood Community College awarded about 56 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Kirkwood Community College earn around $32,116 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,519 to complete this degree.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Kirkwood Community College
A rank of #4 makes University Of Northern Iowa one of the top schools for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public university. University Of Northern Iowa graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 27 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $38,637. University Of Northern Iowa graduates carry a median of $25,100 in student loans.
See the full design & applied arts program report for University Of Northern Iowa
Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at Luther College, which ranked #5. Luther College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Decorah. About 71% of students finish within six years. Luther College awarded about 15 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Luther College earn around $42,426 in the first couple years of their career. Luther College graduates carry a median of $26,967 in student loans.
Get the full design & applied arts details for Luther College
Des Moines Area Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 110 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $25,265 early in their careers. Des Moines Area Community College graduates carry a median of $13,625 in student loans.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Des Moines Area Community College
Western Iowa Tech Community College earned the #7 position for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 10 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Western Iowa Tech Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Western Iowa Tech Community College earn around $35,742 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,886 to complete this degree.
Read more about the design & applied arts program at Western Iowa Tech Community College
Hawkeye Community College came in at #8 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the rural area of Waterloo, Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 22 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Hawkeye Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Hawkeye Community College generally make around $41,902. Typical student debt for the program is $17,001.
See the full design & applied arts program report for Hawkeye Community College
Upper Iowa University landed the #9 spot for design & applied arts this year. Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Fayette. About 33% of students finish within six years. Upper Iowa University awarded about 12 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Upper Iowa University earn a median of $31,122 early in their careers. Upper Iowa University graduates carry a median of $39,780 in student loans.
Get the full design & applied arts details for Upper Iowa University
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings
View All Design & Applied Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 9 schools evaluated.
- 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.
