2026 Best Value Industrial Design Schools in Pennsylvania
[Industrial Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/industrial-design/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for industrial design students.
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2026 Best Value Industrial Design Schools in Pennsylvania
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 Community College Of Allegheny County this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Community College Of Allegheny County is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,956, with out-of-state students paying around $12,583. Students borrow a median of $15,263 to complete the industrial design program here. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $47,420. That is a strong return on a $15,263 median debt.
Pennsylvania College Of Technology came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial design schools. Set in the city of Williamsport, Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,940 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,680 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $27,000. Industrial Design graduates of Pennsylvania College Of Technology earn a median of $45,572 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Thomas Jefferson University one of the best values for industrial design. Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $47,355. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $27,000. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $64,243. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Drexel University one of the best values for industrial design. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $62,412. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $27,000. Industrial Design graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $67,556 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
