2027 Best Value Industrial Design Schools in Pennsylvania
[Industrial Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/industrial-design/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for industrial design students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Industrial Design Schools in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in industrial design, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Industrial Design Schools
Community College Of Allegheny County earned the #1 spot for value among industrial design schools in Pennsylvania. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Community College Of Allegheny County is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,956 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,583 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $15,263. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Community College Of Allegheny County generally make around $47,420. Set against $15,263 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in industrial design, landing the #2 spot this year. Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Williamsport. Students from in state pay about $17,940 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,680. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the industrial design program here. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $45,572. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt.
Thomas Jefferson University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in industrial design, landing the #3 spot this year. Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $47,355. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $27,000. Industrial Design graduates of Thomas Jefferson University earn a median of $64,243 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Drexel University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in industrial design, landing the #4 spot this year. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $62,412. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $27,000. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $67,556. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Drexel University admits about 79% of applicants.
More Industrial Design Rankings
View All Industrial Design Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
