2026 Best Value Industrial Design Schools in the Middle Atlantic 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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 19 schools to find the best return on investment for industrial design students.
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2026 Best Value Industrial Design Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in industrial design, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Industrial Design Schools
Cuny Laguardia Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value industrial design schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,218 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,098. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $8,858. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Cuny Laguardia Community College generally make around $13,554. Set against $8,858 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kean University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in industrial design, landing the #2 spot this year. Kean University is a large public school located in the suburb of Union. In-state tuition and fees average $14,299, while out-of-state students pay about $22,446. Students borrow a median of $26,713 to complete the industrial design program here. Industrial Design graduates of Kean University earn a median of $35,673 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,713 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in industrial design will find it at Montclair State University, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,912 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $26,022. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $26,027. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Community College Of Allegheny County came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial design schools. Community College Of Allegheny County is a large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,956, while out-of-state students pay about $12,583. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $15,263. Industrial Design graduates of Community College Of Allegheny County earn a median of $47,420 early in their careers. Set against $15,263 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suny College At Buffalo is a great value for students pursuing a degree in industrial design, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Buffalo, Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,533, with out-of-state students paying around $19,653. Students borrow a median of $25,257 to complete the industrial design program here. Industrial Design graduates of Suny College At Buffalo earn a median of $39,412 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny College At Buffalo admits about 73% of applicants.
New Jersey Institute Of Technology landed the #6 spot for industrial design value this year. Set in the city of Newark, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $19,974, with out-of-state students paying around $37,664. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $27,000. Industrial Design graduates of New Jersey Institute Of Technology earn a median of $38,975 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New Jersey Institute Of Technology admits about 65% of applicants.
Fashion Institute Of Technology landed the #7 spot for industrial design value this year. Located in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,174 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,696. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Industrial Design graduates of Fashion Institute Of Technology earn a median of $20,692 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania College Of Technology landed the #8 spot for industrial design value this year. Set in the city of Williamsport, Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,940, with out-of-state students paying around $25,680. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the industrial design program here. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Pennsylvania College Of Technology generally make around $45,572. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Thomas Jefferson University placed #9 among the best values for industrial design. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $47,355 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the industrial design program here. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Thomas Jefferson University generally make around $64,243. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Rochester Institute Of Technology came in at #10 for value in industrial design this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $59,210 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the industrial design program here. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Rochester Institute Of Technology generally make around $34,709. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Drexel University placed #11 among the best values for industrial design. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,412. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $27,000. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $67,556. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Maryland Institute College Of Art ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial design schools. Maryland Institute College Of Art is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. In-state tuition and fees average $56,800. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Industrial Design graduates of Maryland Institute College Of Art earn a median of $48,637 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Maryland Institute College Of Art admits about 77% of applicants.
Syracuse University came in at #13 for value in industrial design this year. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,528. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Industrial Design graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $46,181 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Pratt Institute Main earned the #14 position for value in industrial design this year. Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,845. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $19,000. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $40,880. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
The New School earned the #15 position for value in industrial design this year. Set in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $58,730 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,606 to complete the industrial design program here. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from The New School generally make around $36,279. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
