by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Industrial Design covers Industrial And Product Design. A Program In The Applied Visual Arts That Prepares Individuals To Use Artistic Techniques To Effectively Communicate Ideas And Information To Business And Consumer Audiences Via The Creation Of Effective Forms, Shapes, And Packaging For Manufactured Products. Includes Instruction In Designing In A Wide Variety Of Plastic And Digital Media, Prototype Construction, Design Development And Refinement, Principles Of Cost Saving, And Product Structure And Performance Criteria Relevant To Aesthetic Design Parameters. Read on to learn the essential details every industrial design student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering industrial design programs.
In the U.S., industrial design is a widely-pursued major, with 1,395 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Industrial Design Schools ranking analyzes these 67 schools to determine the best overall colleges for industrial design students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of industrial design programs later in this article.
Studies in Industrial Design develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations industrial design graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a industrial design program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a industrial design major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several industrial design degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 54 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,168 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 173 |
People currently working in careers related to industrial design tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.9% |
| Master’s degree | 33.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 19.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.4% |
| Some college courses | 4.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in industrial design careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying industrial design opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to industrial design.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to industrial design.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | 387,029 | 12.4% |
| Graphic Designers | 267,813 | 4.6% |
| Designers, All Other | 45,592 | 3.0% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of industrial design graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $32,054 |
| 4 years | $41,389 |
| 5 years | $46,982 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for industrial design graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers industrial design grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Designers, All Other | $73,407 |
| Graphic Designers | $66,386 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $56,384 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
With 67 different industrial design programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased industrial design school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in industrial design, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Graphic Design | 10,676 |
| Design and Visual Communications, General | 6,186 |
| Interior Design | 5,651 |
| Illustration | 3,192 |
| Fashion/Apparel Design | 3,186 |
| Commercial and Advertising Art | 2,987 |
| Game and Interactive Media Design | 2,986 |
| Design and Applied Arts, Other | 1,640 |
| Commercial Photography | 899 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
