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.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 40 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for industrial design students pursuing a degree.
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The industrial design program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we built our Best Industrial Design Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Industrial Design Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall industrial design education, regardless of degree level.
Our analysis ranked San Jose State University the best school in the country for a degree in industrial design. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 industrial design students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year. Get the full industrial design details for San Jose State University
A rank of #2 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the top schools for industrial design. 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 19 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. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $12,250 in student loans. Read more about the industrial design program at 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. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fullerton. About 70% of students finish within six years. California State University Fullerton awarded about 80 industrial design degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their industrial design degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $54,471 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans. Read more about the industrial design program at California State University Fullerton
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best industrial design schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. About 23 industrial design degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Students who receive their industrial design degree from North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn around $48,940 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in industrial design from North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in industrial design, ranking #5. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 35 industrial design students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $46,761. Students borrow a median of $25,802 to complete this degree. See the full industrial design program report for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best industrial design schools. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 26 industrial design degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their industrial design degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $44,602 in the first couple years of their career. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. See the full industrial design program report for Purdue University Main Campus
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #7 among the best industrial design schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 industrial design degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $45,176. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,100 in student loans. Get the full industrial design details for Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #8 position for industrial design this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 31 industrial design students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $42,462. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. See the full industrial design program report for University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Clemson University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best industrial design schools. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. About 104 industrial design degrees were awarded at Clemson University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $46,689. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the industrial design program at Clemson University
California State University Long Beach placed #10 among the best industrial design schools. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 28 industrial design degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Students who receive their industrial design degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $37,395 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $17,215 in student loans. See the full industrial design program report for California State University Long Beach
San Francisco State University landed the #11 spot for industrial design this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 37 industrial design students who graduated with this degree at San Francisco State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the industrial design program make about $34,845 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,000. See the full industrial design program report for San Francisco State University
Auburn University landed the #12 spot for industrial design this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 41 industrial design degrees were awarded at Auburn University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $46,585. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the industrial design program at Auburn University
University Of Utah placed #13 among the best industrial design schools. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. University Of Utah graduates 65% of students within six years. About 28 industrial design degrees were awarded at University Of Utah in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $60,527. University Of Utah graduates carry a median of $16,344 in student loans. Read more about the industrial design program at University Of Utah
Syracuse University placed #14 among the best industrial design schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Syracuse. About 84% of students finish within six years. Syracuse University awarded about 20 industrial design degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $46,181. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in industrial design from Syracuse University
Arizona State University placed #15 among the best industrial design schools. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 33 industrial design degrees were awarded at Arizona State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their industrial design degree from Arizona State University earn around $41,589 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree. See the full industrial design program report for Arizona State University
Western Washington University landed the #16 spot for industrial design this year. Located in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public university. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 industrial design degrees were awarded at Western Washington University in the most recent year. Graduates of the industrial design program make about $31,078 in their early career. Western Washington University graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in industrial design from Western Washington University
Kansas State University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best industrial design schools. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. Kansas State University awarded about 14 industrial design degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $43,992. Kansas State University graduates carry a median of $23,546 in student loans. Read more about the industrial design program at Kansas State University
Fashion Institute Of Technology came in at #18 for industrial design this year. Set in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. About 29 industrial design degrees were awarded at Fashion Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Fashion Institute Of Technology generally make around $20,692. Fashion Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in industrial design from Fashion Institute Of Technology
Wentworth Institute Of Technology earned the #19 position for industrial design this year. Set in the city of Boston, Wentworth Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 32 industrial design degrees were awarded at Wentworth Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Students who receive their industrial design degree from Wentworth Institute Of Technology earn around $50,599 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in industrial design from Wentworth Institute Of Technology
Western Governors University came in at #20 for industrial design this year. Located in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Western Governors University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. There were roughly 29 industrial design students who graduated with this degree at Western Governors University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the industrial design program make about $74,771 in their early career. Western Governors University graduates carry a median of $23,277 in student loans. Get the full industrial design details for Western Governors University
Lawrence Technological University came in at #21 for industrial design this year. Lawrence Technological University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Southfield. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 industrial design students who graduated with this degree at Lawrence Technological University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Lawrence Technological University generally make around $74,924. Typical student debt for the program is $27,799. Get the full industrial design details for Lawrence Technological University
University Of Houston ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best industrial design schools. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. University Of Houston graduates 65% of students within six years. About 19 industrial design degrees were awarded at University Of Houston in the most recent year. Industrial Design graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $47,461 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full industrial design program report for University Of Houston
Appalachian State University placed #23 among the best industrial design schools. Appalachian State University is a very large public school located in the town of Boone. Appalachian State University graduates 74% of students within six years. Appalachian State University awarded about 28 industrial design degrees 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. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500. More information about a degree in industrial design from Appalachian State University
Pratt Institute Main came in at #24 for industrial design this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Brooklyn. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. Pratt Institute Main awarded about 115 industrial design degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their industrial design degree from Pratt Institute Main earn around $40,880 in the first couple years of their career. Pratt Institute Main graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Read more about the industrial design program at Pratt Institute Main
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #25 position for industrial design this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 32 industrial design students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the industrial design program make about $34,377 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,750. Read more about the industrial design program at University Of Illinois At Chicago
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s industrial design ranking:
View the Best Industrial Design Schools for a specific region near you.
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Explore other rankings in majors related to Industrial Design. Browse the parent area of study.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 40 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.