2027 Best Value Industrial Design Schools in the Southeast Region
[Industrial Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/industrial-design/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for industrial design students.
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2027 Best Value Industrial Design Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in industrial design, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Industrial Design Schools
Appalachian State University tops our 2027 list of the best value industrial design schools in the Southeast Region. Appalachian State University is a very large public school located in the town of Boone. In-state tuition and fees average $7,579, compared with $25,212 for out-of-state students. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $34,722. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Appalachian State University admits about 90% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned it the #2 place for industrial design. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $48,940. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arkansas came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial design schools. Set in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,966 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,881 to complete the industrial design program here. Industrial Design graduates of University Of Arkansas earn a median of $41,782 early in their careers. Set against $23,881 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Arkansas admits about 74% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in industrial design will find it at University Of Kentucky, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,502, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $42,168. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Clemson University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial design schools. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,554, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the industrial design program here. Industrial Design graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $46,689 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Clemson University admits about 38% of applicants.
Auburn University came in at #6 for value in industrial design this year. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,890, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $46,585. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Auburn University admits about 46% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #7 among the best values for industrial design. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Students borrow a median of $25,802 to complete the industrial design program here. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $46,761. That is a strong return on a $25,802 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University came in at #8 for value in industrial design this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $26,000. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $40,295. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 99% 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
