2026 Best Value Industrial Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[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.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value industrial design schools.
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2026 Best Value Industrial Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in industrial design, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Industrial Design Schools
For return on investment in industrial design, no school beat Jackson Community College this year. Set in the rural area of Jackson, Jackson Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,350, with out-of-state students paying around $10,200. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $16,960 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Jackson Community College generally make around $41,322. Set against $16,960 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial design schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. 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. The acceptance rate is 50%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Illinois At Chicago one of the best values for industrial design. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $25,750. Industrial Design graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $34,377 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,750 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Ferris State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in industrial design, landing the #4 spot this year. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. In-state tuition and fees average $14,778. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $34,045. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned it the #5 place for industrial design. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $18,839 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. Set against $18,839 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Stout landed the #6 spot for industrial design value this year. Located in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,701, compared with $19,265 for out-of-state students. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $40,615. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #7 for value in industrial design this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $25,100 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $45,176. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Western Michigan University landed the #8 spot for industrial design value this year. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,987, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $27,000. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $39,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Cedarville University earned the #9 position for value in industrial design this year. Located in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,150. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $25,000. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $35,768. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design earned the #10 position for value in industrial design this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $43,743. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the industrial design program here. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $28,801. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Depaul University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial design schools. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the industrial design program here. Industrial Design graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $30,536 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Columbus College Of Art And Design placed #12 among the best values for industrial design. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $40,825 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Columbus College Of Art And Design generally make around $27,970. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Columbus College Of Art And Design admits about 68% of applicants.
Lawrence Technological University placed #13 among the best values for industrial design. Set in the city of Southfield, Lawrence Technological University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,760. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $27,799 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Lawrence Technological University generally make around $74,924. That is a strong return on a $27,799 median debt. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Cleveland Institute Of Art ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial design schools. Cleveland Institute Of Art is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,700. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the industrial design program here. Industrial Design graduates of Cleveland Institute Of Art earn a median of $23,358 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
