2027 Best Value Interior Design Schools in Iowa
[Interior Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/interior-design/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong interior design education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value interior design schools.
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2027 Best Value Interior Design Schools in Iowa
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in interior design, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Interior Design Schools
For return on investment in interior design, no school beat Kirkwood Community College this year. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,176 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,220. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $10,519 in student loans. 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.
Students looking for strong value in interior design will find it at Des Moines Area Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,790, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Students borrow a median of $13,625 to complete the interior design program here. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Des Moines Area Community College generally make around $25,265. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Northern Iowa earned it the #3 place for interior design. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,936, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. Students borrow a median of $25,100 to complete the interior design program here. Interior Design graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $38,637 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,100 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Iowa State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in interior design, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,787 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $36,634. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
