At the national level, the College of Design distinguishes itself by the range of its offerings married with the strong tradition of outreach. Many colleges combine architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, and planning, but fewer incorporate graphic design and fine arts within the same collegiate structure. Iowa State's College of Design is among a handful of colleges that feature this disciplinal diversity available to undergraduate students.

 

The college's undergraduate architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture programs are ranked in the top 15 such programs nationwide, according to a survey by DesignIntelligence (November 2004). The architecture program also tied for 2nd place with Kansas State University, Manhattan, in a ranking of programs in the Midwest. And in a ranking of landscape architecture schools that provide the best preparation in construction methods and materials, Iowa State tied for 8th place with Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, and Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge.