2027 Best Value Industrial Design Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Industrial Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/industrial-design/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. 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.
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2027 Best Value Industrial Design Schools in the The Plains States 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
Leading the list is University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, our #1 best value for industrial design in the The Plains States Region. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,214 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the industrial design program here. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $42,462. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Iowa State University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial design schools. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,787 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $36,634. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants.
Kansas State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial design schools. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $23,546 in student loans. Early-career industrial design graduates make about $43,992. Set against $23,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas City Art Institute is a great value for students pursuing a degree in industrial design, landing the #4 spot this year. Kansas City Art Institute is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. In-state tuition and fees average $44,550. Typical student debt for industrial design graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Kansas City Art Institute generally make around $29,513. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Minneapolis College Of Art And Design came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial design schools. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,484. Industrial Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial design degree recipients from Minneapolis College Of Art And Design generally make around $23,687. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 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.
