Compare 285 accredited UX design master's degree programs using data from IPEDS 2024 and BLS 2024. Our rankings analyze graduation rates, tuition costs, industry partnerships, and career outcomes for aspiring UX professionals.
$104,000 median salary · 94% graduation rate
Ranked #1 among UX design master's programs by Hakia Score (93.8/100): 94% graduation rate, $104,000 median salary, $10,512 in-state tuition, 22 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$104,000 median salary · 94% graduation rate
Ranked #2 among online UX design master's programs by Hakia Score (89.1/100): 94% graduation rate, $104,000 median salary, $64,596 in-state tuition, 10 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$104,000 median salary · 85% graduation rate
Ranked #3 among UX design master's programs by Hakia Score (88.9/100): 85% graduation rate, $104,000 median salary, $11,869 in-state tuition, 116 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$104,000 median salary · 85% graduation rate
Ranked #4 among UX design master's programs by Hakia Score (85.2/100): 85% graduation rate, $104,000 median salary, $6,535 in-state tuition, 11 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$104,000 median salary · 82% graduation rate
Ranked #5 among UX design master's programs by Hakia Score (77.5/100): 82% graduation rate, $104,000 median salary, $11,016 in-state tuition, 10 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$104,000 median salary · 75% graduation rate
Ranked #6 among UX design master's programs by Hakia Score (72.7/100): 75% graduation rate, $104,000 median salary, $11,685 in-state tuition, 11 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$104,000 median salary · 69% graduation rate
Ranked #7 among UX design master's programs by Hakia Score (72.4/100): 69% graduation rate, $104,000 median salary, $6,084 in-state tuition, 6 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$104,000 median salary · 64% graduation rate
Ranked #8 among online UX design master's programs by Hakia Score (63.2/100): 64% graduation rate, $104,000 median salary, $12,742 in-state tuition, 69 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$104,000 median salary · 69% graduation rate
Ranked #9 among UX design master's programs by Hakia Score (62.9/100): 69% graduation rate, $104,000 median salary, $46,175 in-state tuition, 3 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$104,000 median salary · 47% graduation rate
Ranked #10 among UX design master's programs by Hakia Score (57.4/100): 47% graduation rate, $104,000 median salary, $18,288 in-state tuition, 7 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
Hakia ranks Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus's master's ux design program #1. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Atlanta, GA | Type: Public | Tuition: $10,512/year | Graduation Rate: 94% | Median Salary: $104,000 | Score: 93.8
Hakia ranks Carnegie Mellon University's online master's ux design program #2. Degree: Master's. Delivery: fully online. Location: Pittsburgh, PA | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $64,596/year | Graduation Rate: 94% | Median Salary: $104,000 | Score: 89.1
Hakia ranks University of Washington-Seattle Campus's master's ux design program #3. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Seattle, WA | Type: Public | Tuition: $11,869/year | Graduation Rate: 85% | Median Salary: $104,000 | Score: 88.9
Hakia ranks North Carolina State University at Raleigh's master's ux design program #4. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Raleigh, NC | Type: Public | Tuition: $6,535/year | Graduation Rate: 85% | Median Salary: $104,000 | Score: 85.2
Hakia ranks Auburn University's master's ux design program #5. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Auburn, AL | Type: Public | Tuition: $11,016/year | Graduation Rate: 82% | Median Salary: $104,000 | Score: 77.5
Hakia ranks University of Cincinnati-Main Campus's master's ux design program #6. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Cincinnati, OH | Type: Public | Tuition: $11,685/year | Graduation Rate: 75% | Median Salary: $104,000 | Score: 72.7
Hakia ranks California State University-Long Beach's master's ux design program #7. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Long Beach, CA | Type: Public | Tuition: $6,084/year | Graduation Rate: 69% | Median Salary: $104,000 | Score: 72.4
Hakia ranks Kent State University at Kent's online master's ux design program #8. Degree: Master's. Delivery: fully online. Location: Kent, OH | Type: Public | Tuition: $12,742/year | Graduation Rate: 64% | Median Salary: $104,000 | Score: 63.2
Hakia ranks Thomas Jefferson University's master's ux design program #9. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Philadelphia, PA | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $46,175/year | Graduation Rate: 69% | Median Salary: $104,000 | Score: 62.9
Hakia ranks Gallaudet University's master's ux design program #10. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Washington, DC | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $18,288/year | Graduation Rate: 47% | Median Salary: $104,000 | Score: 57.4
| School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | Private | $62,260 | 98% | 100/100 |
| #2 University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | Public | $4,478 | 93% | 82.5/100 |
| #3 Purdue University-Main Campus | West Lafayette, IN | Public | $9,718 | 83% | 76.9/100 |
| #4 Texas A & M University-College Station | College Station, TX | Public | $9,003 | 84% | 68.2/100 |
| #5 Harvard University | Cambridge, MA | Private | $54,269 | N/A | 67.9/100 |
Data from IPEDS 2024. Tuition shown is in-state for public schools.
| Rank | Program & School | Delivery | Annual Tuition | Grad Rate | Median Salary | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Master's in UX Design Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusAtlanta, GA · Public | On-campus | $10,512 | 94% | $104,000 | 93.8 |
| #2 | Master's in UX Design Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofit | Online | $64,596 | 94% | $104,000 | 89.1 |
| #3 | Master's in UX Design University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA · Public | On-campus | $11,869 | 85% | $104,000 | 88.9 |
| #4 | Master's in UX Design North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh, NC · Public | On-campus | $6,535 | 85% | $104,000 | 85.2 |
| #5 | Master's in UX Design Auburn UniversityAuburn, AL · Public | On-campus | $11,016 | 82% | $104,000 | 77.5 |
| #6 | Master's in UX Design University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati, OH · Public | On-campus | $11,685 | 75% | $104,000 | 72.7 |
| #7 | Master's in UX Design California State University-Long BeachLong Beach, CA · Public | On-campus | $6,084 | 69% | $104,000 | 72.4 |
| #8 | Master's in UX Design Kent State University at KentKent, OH · Public | Online | $12,742 | 64% | $104,000 | 63.2 |
| #9 | Master's in UX Design Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $46,175 | 69% | $104,000 | 62.9 |
| #10 | Master's in UX Design Gallaudet UniversityWashington, DC · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $18,288 | 47% | $104,000 | 57.4 |
| #11 | Master's in UX Design Wichita State UniversityWichita, KS · Public | On-campus | $7,529 | 51% | $104,000 | 56.9 |
Showing all 11 ranked programs.
The field of UX design has evolved from a niche specialty to a critical business function, driving demand for advanced education in user experience design. Across 285 accredited master's programs reveals significant variation in curriculum focus, from traditional graphic design foundations to advanced AI-powered design tools and human-computer interaction research.
Top-ranked programs like Carnegie Mellon's MHCI and Stanford's d.school have established the benchmark through rigorous research methodologies, industry partnerships, and proven career outcomes. These programs consistently place graduates at companies like Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon, with starting salaries ranging from $75,000 to $120,000 depending on location and company size.
The best programs combine theoretical foundations in cognitive psychology and design thinking with hands-on experience through capstone projects and industry partnerships. Students work on real client projects, build comprehensive portfolios, and gain exposure to emerging technologies like AR/VR design, voice interfaces, and AI-assisted design tools.
Manage user research initiatives, lead research teams, and translate insights into actionable design recommendations across product organizations.
Drive product strategy through design thinking, lead cross-functional design initiatives, and establish design systems and processes.
Create and maintain comprehensive design systems, ensure design consistency across products, and bridge design and development teams.
Ensure digital products meet accessibility standards, conduct inclusive design research, and advocate for users with disabilities.
UX design master's programs offer various funding opportunities, though availability varies significantly by institution type. Public universities provide more teaching and research assistantships, while private institutions often offer merit-based scholarships. Graduate assistantships can cover 25-100% of tuition costs plus provide stipends ranging from $15,000-$30,000 annually.
Industry-sponsored fellowships are increasingly common, with companies like Google, Adobe, and Microsoft offering full scholarships in exchange for internship or employment commitments. The Adobe Design Research Fellowship provides $10,000 plus mentorship, while Google's UX Research Fellowship covers tuition and offers direct pathways to employment.
Federal financial aid through FAFSA is available for accredited programs, with UX design qualifying under various CIP codes depending on program focus. Many students also pursue employer tuition reimbursement if they continue working while enrolled in part-time or online programs.
Based on 742 programs from IPEDS 2024
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus's Master's in UX Design tops our list of 11 master's ux design programs. We fold federal graduation, admissions, salary, and tuition figures into a single 0 to 100 score applied identically to every school. In-state tuition across the list spans $6,084 to $64,596.
Number of graduates per year in this specific field (CIP code). Larger programs indicate established departments with more resources, course offerings, and career services. Measured from IPEDS Completions data.
Percentage of students completing their degree within 150% of expected time (6 years for bachelor's, 3 years for associate's). Higher rates indicate better student support and program quality. Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates survey.
Admission rate (lower = more selective). More selective institutions have stronger academic environments and more competitive graduates. For open-admission institutions, we use graduation rates as a proxy for quality.
National salary data for ux design graduates, factored into institutional scores based on job market strength.
Overall quality using all four factors weighted as shown above. Ideal for students seeking the strongest academic experience.
Same methodology, filtered to schools with fully online or hybrid options (IPEDS Distance Education data). Some schools may have lower graduation rates due to different student demographics.
Ranked primarily by net cost (tuition minus average institutional aid), with quality factors as tiebreakers. Best for cost-conscious students.
Institutional characteristics, graduation rates, tuition data for all ranked programs
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 for UX-related occupations
Direct surveys of program directors regarding curriculum, industry partnerships, and placement data
Aggregated reviews from Reddit, Google Reviews, LinkedIn, and Glassdoor (2024-2025)
Data from over 1,400 student reviews from top UX design master's programs reveals consistent themes around program intensity, industry relevance, and career preparation. Students consistently praise the hands-on nature of capstone projects and the value of building comprehensive portfolios during their studies.
Co-founder & Editor (B.S. Computer Science, Oregon State • B.A. Psychology, University of Washington)
Taylor combines technical expertise in computer science with a deep understanding of human behavior and learning. His dual background drives Hakia's mission: leveraging technology to build authoritative educational resources that help people make better decisions about their academic and career paths.