2027 Best Value Interior Design Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Interior Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/interior-design/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong interior design education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value interior design schools.
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2027 Best Value Interior Design Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in interior design, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Interior Design Schools
Metropolitan Community College Area tops our 2027 list of the best value interior design schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,375 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,950. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $12,526 in student loans. Early-career interior design graduates make about $29,902. Set against $12,526 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in interior design will find it at Saint Louis Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Bridgeton, Saint Louis Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $6,990. Students borrow a median of $11,424 to complete the interior design program here. Interior Design graduates of Saint Louis Community College earn a median of $25,929 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kirkwood Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in interior design, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,176, while out-of-state students pay about $8,220. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $10,519. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Kirkwood Community College generally make around $32,116. That is a strong return on a $10,519 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wichita Area Technical College earned it the #4 place for interior design. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita Area Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,237. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $11,828 in student loans. Interior Design graduates of Wichita Area Technical College earn a median of $35,358 early in their careers. Set against $11,828 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Century College one of the best values for interior design. Set in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,214 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $15,000. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Century College generally make around $41,814. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #6 for value in interior design this year. Set in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,790, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $13,625. Interior Design graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $25,265 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Dakota County Technical College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value interior design schools. Set in the rural area of Rosemount, Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,679. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $13,474. Interior Design graduates of Dakota County Technical College earn a median of $50,429 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Alexandria Technical And Community College came in at #8 for value in interior design this year. Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Alexandria. In-state tuition and fees average $6,236. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $12,000. Early-career interior design graduates make about $31,830. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Johnson County Community College came in at #9 for value in interior design this year. Set in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,424 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $13,625. Early-career interior design graduates make about $32,030. Set against $13,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Central Missouri landed the #10 spot for interior design value this year. Set in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,050, compared with $18,600 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,576 to complete the interior design program here. Interior Design graduates of University Of Central Missouri earn a median of $33,921 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,576 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
North Dakota State University Main Campus landed the #11 spot for interior design value this year. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,910, while out-of-state students pay about $15,564. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from North Dakota State University Main Campus generally make around $41,846. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. North Dakota State University Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.
Southeast Missouri State University placed #12 among the best values for interior design. Southeast Missouri State University is a large public school located in the city of Cape Girardeau. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,903. Students borrow a median of $23,289 to complete the interior design program here. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Southeast Missouri State University generally make around $43,255. That is a strong return on a $23,289 median debt. Southeast Missouri State University admits about 74% of applicants.
University Of Northern Iowa placed #13 among the best values for interior design. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,936, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $25,100 in student loans. Interior Design graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $38,637 early in their careers. Set against $25,100 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of Nebraska At Kearney earned the #14 position for value in interior design this year. University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kearney. In-state tuition and fees average $8,564, compared with $16,484 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $22,173. Interior Design graduates of University Of Nebraska At Kearney earn a median of $46,744 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,173 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #15 position for value in interior design this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Interior Design graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $42,462 early in their careers. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
Iowa State University earned the #16 position for value in interior design this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career interior design graduates make about $36,634. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
South Dakota State University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value interior design schools. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,299, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from South Dakota State University generally make around $35,944. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Park University placed #18 among the best values for interior design. Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Parkville. Students from in state pay about $12,116 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $20,750. Interior Design graduates of Park University earn a median of $46,340 early in their careers. Set against $20,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Stevens Institute Of Business And Arts ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value interior design schools. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Stevens Institute Of Business And Arts is a small private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,332. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $29,058. Stevens Institute Of Business And Arts admits about 100% of applicants.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis came in at #20 for value in interior design this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $27,166. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $24,621. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Maryville University Of Saint Louis generally make around $39,623. Set against $24,621 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
