2023 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Iowa
Finding the Best Design & Applied Arts School for You
With 481 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, design and applied arts is the #21 most popular major in Iowa.
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Iowa ranking. This report analyzed 6 schools in Iowa to see which ones offered the best programs for students.
View our full ranking methodology.
Featured Design & Applied Arts Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts
Translate your creative ideas through concept, design and digital media with a bachelor's in graphic design online from Southern New Hampshire University.
Take the first step toward a career of visual expression and doing what you love with this online associate degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Learn to create a striking portfolio and hone the skills you need to succeed in the world of professional photography with this online digital photography degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
2023 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Iowa
The following schools top our list of the Best Design & Applied Arts Colleges.
Top Iowa Schools in Design & Applied Arts
Our 2023 rankings named Luther College the best school in Iowa for design and applied arts students. Located in the town of Decorah, Luther is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Drake University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Iowa list. Drake is a small private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Des Moines.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Drake University Report
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Iowa list. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State is a public school with a very large student population.
On average, design graduates from Iowa State take out $27,000 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $262.
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The excellent programs at University of Northern Iowa helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best design and applied arts schools in Iowa. UNI is a moderately-sized public school located in the small city of Cedar Falls.
While working on their degree, design majors at UNI accumulate an average of around $25,000 in student debt.
Full Design & Applied Arts at University of Northern Iowa Report
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Grand View University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Iowa list. Located in the midsize city of Des Moines, Grand View University is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
After completing their degree, design graduates from Grand View University carry an average student debtload of $26,000.
Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Grand View University
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Des Moines Area Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Design & Applied Arts Schools in Iowa list. DMACC is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny.
After completing their degree, design graduates from DMACC carry an average student debtload of $14,167.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Des Moines Area Community College Report
Request InformationBest Design & Applied Arts Colleges in the Plains States Region
Explore all the Best Design & Applied Arts Colleges in the Plains States Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Missouri | 432 |
| Minnesota | 533 |
| Kansas | 229 |
| Nebraska | 223 |
| North Dakota | 36 |
| South Dakota | 57 |
More Design & Applied Arts Rankings in Iowa
Related Programs
Learn about other programs related to Design & Applied Arts that might interest you.
Take the first step toward a career of visual expression and doing what you love with this online associate degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Learn to create a striking portfolio and hone the skills you need to succeed in the world of professional photography with this online digital photography degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Get on the right path to the fast-paced, exciting world of video game art and design with this online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
Design & Applied Arts Related Rankings by Major
Design & Applied Arts is one of 10 different types of programs to choose from.
Most Popular Majors Related to Design
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Fine & Studio Arts | 37,413 |
| Music | 25,910 |
| Drama & Theater Arts | 17,341 |
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 16,778 |
| General Visual & Performing Arts | 6,355 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 6 schools only.
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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 the rest 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.