2026 Best Value Interior Design Schools in Iowa
[Interior Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/interior-design/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong interior design education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for interior design students.
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2026 Best Value Interior Design Schools in Iowa
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the interior design degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Interior Design Schools
Kirkwood Community College earned the #1 spot for value among interior design schools in Iowa. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Students from in state pay about $6,176 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $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. Set against $10,519 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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. Students from in state pay about $5,790 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $13,625 in student loans. 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.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Northern Iowa one of the best values for interior design. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,936, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $25,100 in student loans. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $38,637. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Northern Iowa admits about 93% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Iowa State University earned it the #4 place for interior design. 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. 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.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
