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2026 Best Value Industrial Design Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the industrial design degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Industrial Design Schools
California State University Long Beach earned the #1 spot for value among industrial design schools in the United States. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,374, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $17,215 in student loans. Industrial Design graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $37,395 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,215 median debt. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial design schools. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. Students from in state pay about $12,973 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $12,250. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $63,449. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
A rank of #3 makes San Jose State University one of the best values for industrial design. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,010 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $78,988 ten years after entry. The acceptance rate is 85%.
San Francisco State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial design schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,846, while out-of-state students pay about $20,446. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $18,000. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $34,845. That is a strong return on a $18,000 median debt. San Francisco State University admits about 96% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Utah earned it the #5 place for industrial design. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, while out-of-state students pay about $30,860. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $16,344 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $60,527. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.
ADBLOCK #101
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #6 position for value in industrial design this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $34,377. Set against $25,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University came in at #7 for value in industrial design this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $35,960. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Kean University came in at #8 for value in industrial design this year. Located in the suburb of Union, Kean University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,299, with out-of-state students paying around $22,446. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $26,713 in student loans. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $35,673. Set against $26,713 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #9 position for value in industrial design this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete the industrial design program here. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $44,602. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
Ferris State University placed #10 among the best values for industrial design. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,778 in tuition and fees. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $34,045. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Houston placed #11 among the best values for industrial design. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. Students from in state pay about $9,717 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the industrial design program here. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $47,461. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Wichita State University landed the #12 spot for industrial design value this year. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,684, compared with $19,869 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Wichita State University generally make around $49,278. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Universidad Del Turabo landed the #13 spot for industrial design value this year. Located in the suburb of Gurabo, Universidad Del Turabo is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,750. Students borrow a median of $11,250 to complete the industrial design program here. Industrial Design graduates of Universidad Del Turabo earn a median of $7,580 early in their careers. Set against $11,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Montclair State University came in at #14 for value in industrial design this year. Located in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,912, compared with $26,022 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Montclair State University generally make around $26,027. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial design schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $18,839. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $57,461. Set against $18,839 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Brigham Young University Provo ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial design schools. Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,688. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $13,000. Industrial Design graduates of Brigham Young University Provo earn a median of $33,915 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,000 median debt. Brigham Young University Provo admits about 68% of applicants.
Suny College At Buffalo landed the #17 spot for industrial design value this year. Set in the city of Buffalo, Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,533, with out-of-state students paying around $19,653. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $25,257. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Suny College At Buffalo generally make around $39,412. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny College At Buffalo admits about 73% of applicants.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #18 among the best values for industrial design. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $20,500. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $44,930. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of Louisiana Lafayette earned the #19 position for value in industrial design this year. Set in the city of Lafayette, University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,418, with out-of-state students paying around $24,146. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $20,416 in student loans. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $28,206. That is a strong return on a $20,416 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Escuela De Artes Plasticas De Puerto Rico came in at #20 for value in industrial design this year. Escuela De Artes Plasticas De Puerto Rico is a small public school located in the city of San Juan. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,902, compared with $8,502 for out-of-state students. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $7,453. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver placed #21 among the best values for industrial design. Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,124, compared with $30,684 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,125 to complete the industrial design program here. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $39,450. That is a strong return on a $29,125 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities landed the #22 spot for industrial design value this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $42,462. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
Appalachian State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial design schools. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,579, while out-of-state students pay about $25,212. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $21,500. Industrial Design graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of $34,722 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
New Jersey Institute Of Technology ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial design schools. New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Newark. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,974, with out-of-state students paying around $37,664. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from New Jersey Institute Of Technology generally make around $38,975. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
University Of Arkansas placed #25 among the best values for industrial design. Located in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,966. Students borrow a median of $23,881 to complete the industrial design program here. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from University Of Arkansas generally make around $52,555. That is a strong return on a $23,881 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Industrial Design Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s industrial design value ranking:
Other Industrial Design Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Industrial Design rankings across degree levels:
[Industrial Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/industrial-design/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
