2027 Best Value Industrial Design Master’s Degree Schools
[Industrial Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/industrial-design/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value industrial design schools.
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2027 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
For return on investment in industrial design, no school beat University Of Illinois At Chicago this year. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $25,750. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $34,377. That is a strong return on a $25,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Fashion Institute Of Technology came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial design schools. Located in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,174, 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. Fashion Institute Of Technology admits about 60% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in industrial design will find it at Kansas State University, which ranked #3. 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, compared with $28,568 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,546 to complete the industrial design program here. Industrial Design graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $43,992 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in industrial design will find it at Iowa State University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,787 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $35,702. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants.
Arizona State University Skysong is a great value for students pursuing a degree in industrial design, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,627, compared with $13,925 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the industrial design program here. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $55,394. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Liberty University placed #6 among the best values for industrial design. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
Minneapolis College Of Art And Design landed the #7 spot for industrial design value this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,484. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $27,000. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $23,687. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Rochester Institute Of Technology earned the #8 position for value in industrial design this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,210. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rochester Institute Of Technology admits about 67% of applicants.
Drexel University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial design schools. 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. Drexel University admits about 79% of applicants.
Syracuse University placed #10 among the best values for industrial design. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the industrial design program here. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $46,181. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Maryland Institute College Of Art ranked #11 on our 2027 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,800. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $27,000. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $70,027. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Otis College Of Art And Design ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial design schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Otis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $56,488 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $27,000. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $31,172. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Pratt Institute Main landed the #13 spot for industrial design value this year. Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. Students from in state pay about $61,845 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the industrial design program here. Industrial Design graduates of Pratt Institute Main earn a median of $45,720 early in their careers. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Pratt Institute Main admits about 73% of applicants.
California College Of The Arts earned the #14 position for value in industrial design this year. California College Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $60,226. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the industrial design program here. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $28,673. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. California College Of The Arts admits about 91% of applicants.
The New School placed #15 among the best values for industrial design. Set in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $58,730. Students borrow a median of $23,606 to complete the industrial design program here. Industrial Design graduates of The New School earn a median of $39,393 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,606 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Other Industrial Design Degree Levels
Explore the best-value industrial design schools at other degree levels:
View All Industrial Design Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
