---

2027 Best Value Industrial Design Schools in North Carolina

[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong industrial design education at a price that pays off.

To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 2 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for industrial design students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Industrial Design Schools in North Carolina

2027 Best Value Industrial Design Schools in North Carolina

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

1

Appalachian State University
Boone, NC

$7,579 In-State Tuition & Fees

$21,500 Avg Student Debt

$51,836 Median Earnings (10yr)

Our analysis ranked Appalachian State University the best value for a degree in industrial design in North Carolina. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,579, compared with $25,212 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $21,500. Industrial Design graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of $34,722 early in their careers. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.

2

North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Raleigh, NC

$8,799 In-State Tuition & Fees

$20,500 Avg Student Debt

$68,758 Median Earnings (10yr)

A rank of #2 makes North Carolina State University At Raleigh one of the best values for industrial design. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.

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 · 2 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.