by our College Data Analytics TeamIndustrial Design programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their industrial design programs.
College Factual analyzed 83 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best industrial design schools.
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The industrial design program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Industrial Design rankings. For our Best Overall Industrial Design School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Industrial Design Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the industrial design degrees they offer, see the list below.
San Jose State University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in industrial design. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. San Jose State University awarded about 12 industrial design degrees in the most recent data year. Read more about the industrial design program at San Jose State University
University Of Washington Seattle Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in industrial design, ranking #2. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 industrial design degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the industrial design program make about $63,449 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,250. See the full industrial design program report for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
California State University Fullerton is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in industrial design, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 50 industrial design students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $54,471. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans. Get the full industrial design details for California State University Fullerton
Students looking for a strong industrial design program will find one at North Carolina State University At Raleigh, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 22 industrial design degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Industrial Design graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $48,940 early in their careers. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Get the full industrial design details for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
A rank of #5 makes Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University one of the top schools for industrial design. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 36 industrial design degrees in the most recent data year. Industrial Design graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $46,761 early in their careers. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $25,802 in student loans. Read more about the industrial design program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #6 spot for industrial design this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 industrial design students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the industrial design program make about $44,602 in their early career. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Read more about the industrial design program at Purdue University Main Campus
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #7 spot for industrial design this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 19 industrial design degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the industrial design program make about $45,176 in their early career. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,100 in student loans. Read more about the industrial design program at Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #8 position for industrial design this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 21 industrial design degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $42,462. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in industrial design from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
San Francisco State University placed #9 among the best industrial design schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. About 50% of students finish within six years. San Francisco State University awarded about 33 industrial design degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the industrial design program make about $34,845 in their early career. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans. See the full industrial design program report for San Francisco State University
California State University Long Beach placed #10 among the best industrial design schools. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. California State University Long Beach awarded about 29 industrial design degrees in the most recent data year. Industrial Design graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $37,395 early in their careers. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $17,215 in student loans. Get the full industrial design details for California State University Long Beach
Arizona State University came in at #11 for industrial design this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Arizona State University awarded about 34 industrial design degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $41,589. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in industrial design from Arizona State University
Clemson University placed #12 among the best industrial design schools. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. About 87% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 78 industrial design students who graduated with this degree at Clemson University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $46,689. Clemson University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Read more about the industrial design program at Clemson University
University Of Utah ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best industrial design schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Salt Lake City. University Of Utah graduates 65% of students within six years. University Of Utah awarded about 29 industrial design degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their industrial design degree from University Of Utah earn around $60,527 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,344 to complete this degree. Read more about the industrial design program at University Of Utah
Auburn University landed the #14 spot for industrial design this year. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 44 industrial design students who graduated with this degree at Auburn University in the most recent data year. Industrial Design graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $46,585 early in their careers. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. See the full industrial design program report for Auburn University
Syracuse University landed the #15 spot for industrial design this year. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Syracuse University graduates 84% of students within six years. Syracuse University awarded about 17 industrial design degrees in the most recent data year. Industrial Design graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $46,181 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full industrial design program report for Syracuse University
Western Washington University came in at #16 for industrial design this year. This large public university is located in the city of Bellingham. Western Washington University graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 industrial design students who graduated with this degree at Western Washington University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Western Washington University generally make around $31,078. Western Washington University graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Read more about the industrial design program at Western Washington University
Kansas State University earned the #17 position for industrial design this year. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. There were roughly 12 industrial design students who graduated with this degree at Kansas State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the industrial design program make about $43,992 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,546. More information about a degree in industrial design from Kansas State University
Fashion Institute Of Technology landed the #18 spot for industrial design this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of New York. There were roughly 25 industrial design students who graduated with this degree at Fashion Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Fashion Institute Of Technology generally make around $20,692. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500. See the full industrial design program report for Fashion Institute Of Technology
Pratt Institute Main ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best industrial design schools. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Pratt Institute Main graduates 74% of students within six years. About 98 industrial design degrees were awarded at Pratt Institute Main in the most recent year. Graduates of the industrial design program make about $40,880 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the industrial design program at Pratt Institute Main
Appalachian State University landed the #20 spot for industrial design this year. Set in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 37 industrial design students who graduated with this degree at Appalachian State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their industrial design degree from Appalachian State University earn around $34,722 in the first couple years of their career. Appalachian State University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in industrial design from Appalachian State University
Wentworth Institute Of Technology ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best industrial design schools. Wentworth Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 19 industrial design students who graduated with this degree at Wentworth Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Wentworth Institute Of Technology generally make around $50,599. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the industrial design program at Wentworth Institute Of Technology
Rochester Institute Of Technology ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best industrial design schools. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 64 industrial design degrees were awarded at Rochester Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the industrial design program make about $34,709 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full industrial design program report for Rochester Institute Of Technology
University Of Houston landed the #23 spot for industrial design this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Houston. About 65% of students finish within six years. University Of Houston awarded about 20 industrial design degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $47,461. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Read more about the industrial design program at University Of Houston
Iowa State University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best industrial design schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Ames. About 75% of students finish within six years. Iowa State University awarded about 76 industrial design degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $36,634. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Get the full industrial design details for Iowa State University
Western Michigan University placed #25 among the best industrial design schools. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Western Michigan University awarded about 22 industrial design degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the industrial design program make about $39,077 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Get the full industrial design details for Western Michigan University
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong industrial design education:
View the Best Industrial Design Schools for a specific region near you.
Industrial Design is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. Browse the parent area of study.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 83 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.