2027 Best Industrial Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Industrial Design degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools to find the best for industrial design students.
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Best Schools for Industrial Design in the Great Lakes Region
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.
Top Schools in Industrial Design
Leading the list is Purdue University Main Campus, our #1 school for industrial design. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 26 industrial design degrees in the most recent data year. Industrial Design graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $44,602 early in their careers. 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 came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best industrial design schools. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. 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. Students who receive their industrial design degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $45,176 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,100 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in industrial design from Ohio State University Main Campus
Students looking for a strong industrial design program will find one at Lawrence Technological University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Southfield, Lawrence Technological University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 industrial design students who graduated with this degree at Lawrence Technological University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the industrial design program make about $74,924 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,799.
Get the full industrial design details for Lawrence Technological University
A rank of #4 makes University Of Illinois At Chicago one of the top schools for industrial design. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. About 62% of students finish within six years. About 32 industrial design degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $34,377. Students borrow a median of $25,750 to complete this degree.
Get the full industrial design details for University Of Illinois At Chicago
Western Michigan University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in industrial design, ranking #5. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. Western Michigan University graduates 58% of students within six years. Western Michigan University awarded about 18 industrial design degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their industrial design degree from Western Michigan University earn around $39,077 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the industrial design program at Western Michigan University
University Of Wisconsin Stout earned the #6 position for industrial design this year. University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Menomonie. University Of Wisconsin Stout graduates 55% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Stout awarded about 29 industrial design degrees in the most recent data year. Industrial Design graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stout earn a median of $40,615 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Stout graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Get the full industrial design details for University Of Wisconsin Stout
Cedarville University came in at #7 for industrial design this year. Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Cedarville. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cedarville University awarded about 19 industrial design degrees in the most recent data year. Industrial Design graduates of Cedarville University earn a median of $35,768 early in their careers. Cedarville University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full industrial design program report for Cedarville University
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
- 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.
