Industrial and Product Design: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Industrial and Product Design is a creative and technical discipline focused on shaping the form, function, and user experience of manufactured goods. This program equips students with the skills to transform conceptual ideas into practical, market-ready products through strategic design thinking and hands-on innovation.
- Design in Plastic and Digital Media: Mastery of both physical modeling techniques and digital design tools, enabling the visualization and development of product concepts across diverse material and virtual environments.
- Prototype Construction: Practical training in building functional models and mockups to test form, fit, and user interaction, bridging the gap between concept and production.
- Design Development and Refinement: Iterative processes that involve user feedback, technical analysis, and aesthetic evaluation to evolve initial ideas into polished, user-centered solutions.
- Principles of Cost Saving: Integration of economic efficiency into design decisions, emphasizing material selection, manufacturing feasibility, and lifecycle cost considerations.
- Product Structure and Performance Criteria: Understanding of engineering constraints, durability, safety standards, and functional requirements that influence the structural integrity and real-world performance of designed products.
Industrial and Product Design Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Industrial and Product Design Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Industrial and Product Design degrees, including Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, Commercial and Industrial Designers and Designers, All Other. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 352,080 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1121 | $80,190 | $47,040 - $194,530 | 97,890 | N/A |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers 27-1021 | $79,450 | $49,390 - $134,840 | 30,250 | $38.20 |
| Designers, All Other 27-1029 | $66,220 | $36,530 - $131,950 | 9,680 | $31.84 |
| Graphic Designers 27-1024 | $61,300 | $37,600 - $103,030 | 214,260 | $29.47 |
Industrial and Product Design Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $50,840 in West Virginia to $89,005 in California—a 75% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Hawaii, and New York. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 352,080 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Industrial and Product Design by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 67 institutions offering Industrial and Product Design programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Industrial and Product Design is found at Pratt Institute, Main (98 graduates), The New School (83 graduates), Clemson University (78 graduates), Iowa State University (ISU) (76 graduates), and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) (64 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,395 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pratt Institute |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
98 | Brooklyn, New York | Private | pratt.edu |
| The New School |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
83 | New York, New York | Private | newschool.edu |
| Clemson University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
78 | Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
76 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
64 | Rochester, New York | Private | rit.edu |
| California State University (CSUF) |
Postbac Cert.
|
50 | Fullerton, California | Public | fullerton.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Bachelor's
|
44 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) |
Bachelor's
|
41 | Los Angeles, California | Private | fidm.edu |
| Jackson College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
37 | Jackson, Michigan | Public | jccmi.edu |
| Appalachian State University (App State) |
Bachelor's
|
37 | Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| San Francisco State University (SFSU) |
Bachelor's
|
33 | San Francisco, California | Public | sfsu.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
32 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| California College of the Arts (CCA) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | San Francisco, California | Private | cca.edu |
| Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | New York, New York | Public | fitnyc.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Menomonie, Wisconsin | Public | uwstout.edu |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Denver, Colorado | Public | msudenver.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | miad.edu |
| Otis College of Art and Design |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Los Angeles, California | Private | otis.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
20 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| Wentworth Institute of Technology (WIT) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | wit.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| University of Louisiana (UL Lafayette) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Lafayette, Louisiana | Public | louisiana.edu |
| Cedarville University |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Cedarville, Ohio | Private | cedarville.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
16 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| CUNY LaGuardia Community College |
Associate's
|
15 | Long Island City, New York | Public | lagcc.cuny.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| University of Advancing Technology (UAT) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
14 | Tempe, Arizona | Private | uat.edu |
| Western Washington University (WWU) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | wwu.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| Kansas State University (K‑State) |
Master's
|
12 | Manhattan, Kansas | Public | k-state.edu |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Newark, New Jersey | Public | njit.edu |
| GateWay Community College (GWCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
11 | Phoenix, Arizona | Public | gatewaycc.edu |
| Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Cleveland, Ohio | Private | cia.edu |
| Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
10 | Boston, Massachusetts | Public | massart.edu |
| Ferris State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Big Rapids, Michigan | Public | ferris.edu |
| Walla Walla University (WWU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
10 | College Place, Washington | Private | wallawalla.edu |
| Montclair State University |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Montclair, New Jersey | Public | montclair.edu |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Gurabo) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Gurabo, Puerto Rico | Private | uagm.edu |
| DePaul University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| Kean University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Union, New Jersey | Public | kean.edu |
| Johnson & Wales University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | jwu.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Lawrence Technological University (LTU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Southfield, Michigan | Private | ltu.edu |
| Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Columbus, Ohio | Private | ccad.edu |
| Pennsylvania College of Technology |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Williamsport, Pennsylvania | Public | pct.edu |
| Newschool of Architecture and Design |
Bachelor's
|
5 | San Diego, California | Private | newschoolarch.edu |
| Liberty University |
Master's
|
5 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| Cranbrook Academy of Art |
Master's
|
4 | Bloomfield Hills, Michigan | Private | cranbrookart.edu |
| Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | mcad.edu |
| NHTI-Concord's Community College (NHTI) |
Associate's
|
4 | Concord, New Hampshire | Public | nhti.edu |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU) |
Other Award
|
4 | East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania | Public | esu.edu |
| University of Bridgeport (UB) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Bridgeport, Connecticut | Private | bridgeport.edu |
| Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | mica.edu |
| Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Kansas City, Missouri | Private | kcai.edu |
| Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | ccac.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico (EAPD) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Public | eap.edu |
| Universidad Politecnica de Puerto Rico |
Associate's
|
1 | Hato Rey, Puerto Rico | Private | pupr.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Industrial and Product Design programs
How much can I earn with a Industrial and Product Design degree?
Salaries for Industrial and Product Design graduates vary by role and location. Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $80,190 annually, while Commercial and Industrial Designers earn around $79,450. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $89,005 compared to $50,840 in West Virginia. Approximately 352,080 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Industrial and Product Design programs?
Currently 67 accredited institutions offer Industrial and Product Design degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Pratt Institute, Main (98 graduates), The New School (83 graduates), and Clemson University (78 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Industrial and Product Design growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 1,640 in 2010 to a peak of 1,879 in 2020, before declining slightly to 1,395 in 2023-24. This represents a 15% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Industrial and Product Design degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, Commercial and Industrial Designers, and Designers, All Other. Related occupations employ approximately 352,080 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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