ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in Iowa

2 Colleges in the United States
$23,034 Avg Student Debt
$53,804 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Graphic Design Badge [Graphic Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/graphic-design/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools to find the best return on investment for graphic design students.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/graphic-design/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/graphic-design/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/graphic-design/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/graphic-design/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/graphic-design/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/graphic-design/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/graphic-design/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 6
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 50.04), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Graphic Design (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Graphic Design (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts - Web Design" with relevance 0.9
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts - Web Design" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.9)
DEBUG: Checking offer "" with relevance 0.9
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.9)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BA in Game Art & Development" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BA in Game Art & Development" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BS in Game Programming & Development" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "BS in Game Programming & Development" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 5
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 1 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 1
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 1 offers with relevance >= 1.0

2026 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in Iowa

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the graphic design degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Graphic Design Schools

1

Leading the list is University Of Northern Iowa, our #1 best value for graphic design in Iowa. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. Students from in state pay about $9,936 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,712 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,100 to complete the graphic design program here. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $38,637. Set against $25,100 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.

2

Hawkeye Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value graphic design schools. Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Waterloo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,525, compared with $6,612 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $17,001. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from Hawkeye Community College generally make around $41,902. That is a strong return on a $17,001 median debt.

3

Iowa State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value graphic design schools. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $27,000. Graphic Design graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $36,634 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.

ADBLOCK #173
View All Graphic Design Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 15 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options