by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, industrial design was the 304th most popular major nationwide with 1,792 degrees awarded. This represents a 4.9% reduction in product design degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 1,879.
Our 2023 Best Industrial Design Schools ranking analyzes 54 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for industrial design students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of product design programs later in this article.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times is a required skill for product design majors. Required skills include talking to others to convey information effectively and understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most product design degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Specific product design careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are many different product design degree levels. You can get anything from a in industrial design to the highest product design degree, a . How long it takes to complete some common product design degree levels is shown below.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to product design, with approximately 47.8% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for product design workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 37.2% |
| Master’s Degree | 28.5% |
| Doctoral Degree | 17.1% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 7.4% |
| Some College Courses | 4.9% |
Most workers in product design have at least a bachelor's degree. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in industrial design careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the product design career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your product design degree? Industrial Design careers are expected to grow 6.4% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to industrial design.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designers | 277,400 | 4.2% |
| Art, Drama, and Music Professors | 137,200 | 12.0% |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | 41,400 | 4.3% |
| Designers | 9,500 | 5.6% |
As you might expect, salaries for product design graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for industrial design graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers product design grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Professors | $82,560 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $71,430 |
| Designers | $68,610 |
| Graphic Designers | $54,680 |
With over 111 different product design degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased product design school rankings to help you with this.
Industrial Design is one of 9 different types of Design & Applied Arts programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Graphic Design | 8,710 |
| Interior Design | 5,840 |
| Visual Communications | 5,765 |
| Commercial & Advertising Art | 3,597 |
| Fashion Design | 3,103 |
