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Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in Iowa

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2023 Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in Iowa

23 Colleges
$31,807 Avg Salary
$23,790 Avg Student Debt

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 Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in Iowa ranking. Our analysis looked at 23 schools in Iowa to see which programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Design & Applied Arts program at each school on the list.

The colleges and universities below are the most popular for design majors pursuing a .

Our 2023 rankings named Iowa State University the most popular school in Iowa for design and applied arts students. Located in the small city of Ames, Iowa State is a public college with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, design majors at Iowa State accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $262.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Iowa State University

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Des Moines Area Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in Iowa list. DMACC is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Ankeny.

The average amount in student loans that design majors at DMACC take out is $14,167.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Des Moines Area Community College

#3

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Northern Iowa. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in Iowa list. UNI is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Cedar Falls.

The average amount in student loans that design majors at UNI take out is $25,000.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at University of Northern Iowa

#4

Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, IA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Kirkwood Community College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in Iowa list. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the midsize city of Cedar Rapids.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Iowa Tech Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in Iowa list. Located in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

After completing their degree, design graduates from Western Iowa Tech Community College carry an average student debt load of $11,000.

Full Design & Applied Arts at Western Iowa Tech Community College Report

#6

Drake University

Des Moines, IA

Drake University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in Iowa ranking. Drake is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines.

Full Design & Applied Arts at Drake University Report

Hawkeye Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Design & Applied Arts Schools in Iowa ranking. Hawkeye Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Waterloo.

The average amount in student loans that design majors at Hawkeye Community College take out is $20,750.

Read More…

#7

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, IA

Upper Iowa University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular design and applied arts programs. UIU is a small private not-for-profit school located in the remote area of Fayette.

On average, design graduates from UIU take out $42,612 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read More…

#9

Luther College

Decorah, IA

Luther College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for design and applied arts students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the town of Decorah, Luther is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Full Design & Applied Arts at Luther College Report

#10

Iowa Lakes Community College

Estherville, IA

Iowa Lakes Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for design and applied arts students. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the remote town of Estherville, Iowa Lakes Community College is a public college with a small student population.

Read More…

Best Design & Applied Arts Colleges in the Plains States Region

Explore all the Most Popular 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

Design & Applied Arts is one of 10 different types of programs to choose from.

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 23 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 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.

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