There are a lot of factors to consider when exploring industrial and product design college degree programs and we’re going to discuss some of those factors in this article as well as some of the top options for students who are pursuing industrial design programs.
Factors to consider
Just like any degree or major, there are many aspects to consider when choosing an industrial and product design degree program, such as the following:
- Cost: Not all schools and programs are created equal when it comes to price, which is why some universities and programs cost more than others. This is one of the most important factors to consider because not all students can afford top-notch schools that are nationally ranked. It’s also a decision that will have an effect on a student’s long-term future, especially if the student in question has to take out loans to go to school.
- Location: Location is completely based on where a student wants to go to school. A student might want to stay in state to save money. At the same time, a student might want to go to the best possible school for industrial and product design which might be out of state and cost more money as a result.
- Ranking: Some universities are rated higher than others, not to mention specific programs and degrees. If going to a top-ranked school is important to you, then this could be the No. 1 factor you look at when choosing an industrial design program.
- Job prospects: Some programs and universities are viewed as higher quality than others. As a result, people who graduate from these programs and universities have an easier time finding a job, and quite possibly have more leverage and get paid more. At the same time, some programs set students up for jobs after college but are location-based, meaning a student would have to stay in the same area for a job as he or she attended school.
- Schools that fit your interests: There are many aspects to consider for this one. For example, a student might want to go to a university with top-ranked athletic teams. A student might like a campus that’s located close to the mountains or in a city that has nicer year-round weather.
- Program workload and courses: While universities have to follow a specific curriculum, not all programs and universities follow the same workload. Likewise, courses can differentiate based on the school. That’s why it’s important to take a deep look at each program that’s offered.
Top-ranked industrial and product design college degree programs
While every website, ranking, and list looks at different factors, we want to show prospective students a few websites that rank industrial and product design college degree programs.
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Virginia Tech
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Brigham Young University
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- Arizona State University
- University of Houston
- Cedarville University
- Stanford University
- Rhode Island School of Design
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Clemson University
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Rhode Island School of Design
- Carnegie Mellon University
- ArtCenter College of Design
- California College of the Arts
- Pratt Institute
While these websites listed the schools mapped out above, it’s important to take your time in this decision and find a school that fits your wants, needs, and interests. Not to mention, there are many factors when deciding on a school, such as the ones mentioned above.
