2027 Best Value Industrial Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains 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 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for industrial design students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Industrial Design Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in industrial design, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Industrial Design Schools
Western Governors University tops our 2027 list of the best value industrial design schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Located in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Western Governors University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,658. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $23,277. Industrial Design graduates of Western Governors University earn a median of $74,771 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,277 median debt.
Utah State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in industrial design, landing the #2 spot this year. Utah State University is a very large public school located in the city of Logan. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,560, while out-of-state students pay about $24,993. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $16,191 in student loans. Industrial Design graduates of Utah State University earn a median of $52,431 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Utah State University admits about 92% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in industrial design will find it at Metropolitan State College Of Denver, which ranked #3. Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. Students from in state pay about $11,124 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,684 for out-of-state students. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $29,125 in student loans. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $39,450. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in industrial design will find it at Brigham Young University Provo, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,688. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete the industrial design program here. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $33,915. That is a strong return on a $13,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
University Of Utah is a great value for students pursuing a degree in industrial design, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Utah is a very large public school located in the city of Salt Lake City. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $16,344. Industrial Design graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $60,527 early in their careers. Set against $16,344 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Narrow Industrial Design Schools by State
More Industrial Design Rankings
View All Industrial Design Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
