2026 Best Value Industrial Design Master’s Degree Schools
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 83 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 United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in industrial design, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Industrial Design Schools
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #1 spot for value among industrial design schools in the United States. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $25,750. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $34,377. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kansas State University earned it the #2 place for industrial design. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,221 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $23,546. Industrial Design graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $43,992 early in their careers. Set against $23,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Iowa State University one of the best values for industrial design. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,787, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the industrial design program here. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $35,702. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Fashion Institute Of Technology earned it the #4 place for industrial design. Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,174, while out-of-state students pay about $22,696. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Fashion Institute Of Technology generally make around $20,692. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Arizona State University Skysong earned it the #5 place for industrial design. Set in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,627, compared with $13,925 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,742 to complete the industrial design program here. Industrial Design graduates of Arizona State University Skysong earn a median of $55,793 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,742 median debt. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Liberty University placed #6 among the best values for industrial design. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,173. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the industrial design program here. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $50,570. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Maryland Institute College Of Art earned the #7 position for value in industrial design this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Maryland Institute College Of Art is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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 $70,027 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Syracuse University came in at #8 for value in industrial design this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $27,000. 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. Syracuse University admits about 46% of applicants.
Pacific Northwest College Of Art placed #9 among the best values for industrial design. Pacific Northwest College Of Art is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Portland. In-state tuition and fees average $49,006. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $26,899. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $22,024. That is a strong return on a $26,899 median debt. Pacific Northwest College Of Art admits about 75% of applicants.
California College Of The Arts landed the #10 spot for industrial design value this year. California College Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $60,226. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the industrial design program here. Industrial Design graduates of California College Of The Arts earn a median of $28,673 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. California College Of The Arts admits about 91% of applicants.
Pratt Institute Main placed #11 among the best values for industrial design. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $61,845. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $19,000. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $45,720. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
The New School ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial design schools. Set in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,730. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $23,606 in student loans. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $39,393. Set against $23,606 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Cranbrook Academy Of Art placed #13 among the best values for industrial design. Located in the suburb of Bloomfield Hills, Cranbrook Academy Of Art is a small private not-for-profit university. Industrial Design graduates of Cranbrook Academy Of Art earn a median of $38,290 early in their careers.
Other Industrial Design Degree Levels
Explore the best-value industrial design schools at other degree levels:
View All Industrial Design Rankings >
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 · 83 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
