| Ranking | School | City | Ranking by Region | National Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa State University | Ames | #16 in Midwest | Unranked |
| 2 | University of Iowa | Iowa City | Unranked | Unranked |
| 3 | Drake University | Des Moines | Unranked | Unranked |
Our 2026 ranking of the top graphic design school programs in Iowa. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
Iowa State University (Iowa State) provides several paths to study graphic design. Housed in the College of Design, options include Graphic Design BFA and MFA degrees; MA degrees in Experiential Graphic Design (MAxGD) and User Experience Design (MA UX); a dual GD MFA/Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) MS; and minors in UX Design and Digital Media. Across programs, students may participate in the College of Design’s international program, with studio facilities at Palazzo Cenci-Bolognetti in Rome, and faculty-led short-term abroad experiences in places such as Japan, Paris, and Spain. Students also have opportunities to gain real-world experience with clients such as the Special Olympics and Habitat for Humanity. Graduates have secured positions at places such as Deloitte, People Inc., Collins Aerospace, Epic, Alpha Graphics, John Deere, Infosys, AmeriCorps, and the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF).
The School of Art, Art History, and Design (SAAHD) at the University of Iowa (Iowa) houses the Art BA, BFA, MA, and MFA degrees. The undergraduate programs have a concentration in Graphic Design, and the graduate programs have a specialization in Graphic Design. Across programs, students have the opportunity to intern with organizations such as the Kansas City Chiefs and Lynco Products. Other program highlights include access to state-of-the-art studios and labs; study abroad experiences in places such as Rome, the UK, and Spain; participation in the Donate Design Initiative; and the visiting artist series. University of Iowa alumni can be found at places such as Disney, Microsoft, Deloitte, Amazon, Target, RTX, PepsiCo, Uline, Nordstrom, Walmart, Starbucks, P&G, Wells Fargo, UPS, John Deere, and GM.
The Design Department at Drake University (Drake) houses the Graphic Design BA, BFA, and minor programs. Programs are studio-based with access to dedicated, state-of-the-art production facilities in Drake’s historic Carnegie Hall building. Degree-seeking students have opportunities to intern at places such as CBS Sports and Dotdash Meredith, and to study abroad in South Korea, France, and the UK. All students may participate in immersive workshops hosted by the Design Department and the student-led Visual Arts Association at Drake (VAAD) and Periphery Journal. Graduates have been hired at places such as Hallmark, Microsoft, Amazon, Deloitte, Garmin, Capital One, the Oklahoma City Thunder, IBM, Caterpillar, Intel, The Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, VML, Pella Corporation, Nationwide, EY, and Humana.
