2027 Best Industrial Design Schools in the Southeast Region
Industrial Design programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for industrial design students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Industrial Design in the Southeast 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
Our analysis ranked North Carolina State University At Raleigh the best school in the country for a degree in industrial design. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 industrial design students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Industrial Design graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $48,940 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
See the full industrial design program report for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in industrial design, landing the #2 spot this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. Students who receive their industrial design degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $46,761 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,802.
More information about a degree in industrial design from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Students looking for a strong industrial design program will find one at Clemson University, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Clemson. About 87% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 104 industrial design students who graduated with this degree at Clemson University in the most recent data year. Industrial Design graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $46,689 early in their careers. Clemson University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in industrial design from Clemson University
Auburn University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best industrial design schools. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. Auburn University graduates 82% of students within six years. Auburn University awarded about 41 industrial design degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their industrial design degree from Auburn University earn around $46,585 in the first couple years of their career. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in industrial design from Auburn University
Appalachian State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best industrial design schools. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public university. Appalachian State University graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 industrial design students who graduated with this degree at Appalachian State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Appalachian State University generally make around $34,722. Appalachian State University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
Read more about the industrial design program at Appalachian State 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 · 5 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.
