2027 Best Value Industrial Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Industrial Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/industrial-design/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for industrial design students.
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2027 Best Value Industrial Design Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the industrial design degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Industrial Design Schools
For return on investment in industrial design, no school beat University Of Illinois At Chicago this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Students borrow a median of $25,750 to complete the industrial design program here. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $34,377. That is a strong return on a $25,750 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Ferris State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in industrial design, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,778. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $34,045. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great value for students pursuing a degree in industrial design, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $18,839 in student loans. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $57,461. That is a strong return on a $18,839 median debt. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Purdue University Main Campus earned it the #4 place for industrial design. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete the industrial design program here. Industrial Design graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $44,602 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Western Michigan University one of the best values for industrial design. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Students from in state pay about $15,987 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $39,077. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial design schools. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $25,100 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $45,176. That is a strong return on a $25,100 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Stout earned the #7 position for value in industrial design this year. Located in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,701 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,265. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the industrial design program here. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $40,615. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Stout admits about 88% of applicants.
Cedarville University came in at #8 for value in industrial design this year. Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Cedarville. In-state tuition and fees average $37,150. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Industrial Design graduates of Cedarville University earn a median of $35,768 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design landed the #9 spot for industrial design value this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $43,743. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the industrial design program here. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $28,801. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Cleveland Institute Of Art came in at #10 for value in industrial design this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland Institute Of Art is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $48,700. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the industrial design program here. Industrial Design graduates of Cleveland Institute Of Art earn a median of $23,358 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cleveland Institute Of Art admits about 61% of applicants.
Columbus College Of Art And Design came in at #11 for value in industrial design this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,825. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $27,000. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $27,970. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Depaul University came in at #12 for value in industrial design this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the industrial design program here. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $30,536. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Lawrence Technological University placed #13 among the best values for industrial design. Located in the city of Southfield, Lawrence Technological University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,760. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $27,799 in student loans. Industrial Design graduates of Lawrence Technological University earn a median of $74,924 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,799 median debt. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
