Best Bachelor's UX Design Degree Programs in Indiana
Purdue University-Main Campus — West Lafayette, IN
Key Distinction: Five real-world Experience Studio courses with company-like environment and industry sponsors. Senior capstone project with industry partners
Hakia Insight: Purdue's five Experience Studio courses replicate a company-like environment with real industry sponsors (Eli Lilly, Roche, Salesforce), and the Human-Computer Interaction Lab gives undergrads access to research infrastructure most universities reserve for graduate students—explaining the #6 national ranking in UX/UI/HCI.
Purdue's Bachelor of Science in UX Design is a hands-on program offered through the School of Applied and Creative Computing, ranked #6 nationally among all colleges and #2 in the Midwest for UX/UI/HCI programs (Animation Career Review, 2024). The curriculum emphasizes user-centered design, combining practical skills in research methods, visual and interaction design, advanced prototyping, and cross-channel strategies. Students engage in five real-world Experience Studio courses that simulate company environments with actual project sponsors, building professional portfolios and leadership capabilities. The program includes a senior capstone project with industry sponsors, study abroad opportunities, and optional completion in three years through the Degree in 3 program. Graduates are prepared for roles as UX designers, user researchers, product managers, and UI designers at leading employers including Microsoft, Oracle, Salesforce, Citigroup, and BrainAbility. Strong emphasis on practical, industry-ready skills ensures students enter the workforce with competitive capabilities in design thinking and team collaboration.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in UX Design — 4 years, on-campus. BS
Research Labs and Institutes
- Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory
Industry Partners
- Eli Lilly (corporate)
- Roche (corporate)
- John Deere (corporate)
- Salesforce (corporate)
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Oracle, Microsoft, Salesforce.
Notable Faculty
- Lorraine Kisselburgh — Design thinking, human-centered innovation, stakeholder engagement
Location Advantages: Proximity to Indianapolis tech and pharmaceutical corridor (Eli Lilly headquarters)Access to Fortune 500 manufacturers and enterprise software companiesMidwest industrial design ecosystem
University of Notre Dame — Notre Dame, IN
Key Distinction: Mandatory internship opportunities with significant funding support. Study abroad programs in Nepal, Haiti, South Africa, and India on social design projects
Hakia Insight: Notre Dame's mandatory funded internships paired with social design study abroad in Nepal, Haiti, South Africa, and India create a rare pipeline where students aren't just learning empathy—they're designing for it across genuinely different cultural contexts before graduation.
Notre Dame's Bachelor of Arts in Design emphasizes human-centered design principles and solving complex problems through traditional and contemporary media. The visual communication design concentration includes instruction in UX/UI, packaging, data visualization, and user-centered design with focus on research and process. Students benefit from significant funding for internships and study abroad opportunities in Nepal, Haiti, South Africa, and India on social design projects. The program encourages multidisciplinary collaboration with the College of Engineering, Mendoza Business School, and other campus units. Design majors have a 93% placement rate within 6 months of graduation. Students participate in design competitions, professional society chapters (AIGA, IDSA), and have access to robust career development resources and opportunities for independent research and creative projects.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communication Design — 4 years, on-campus. BA
Location Advantages: Proximity to Chicago's design and tech communityMidwest tech growth corridor
Indiana University-Bloomington — Bloomington, IN
Key Distinction: Mandatory Capstone Experience with user research, problem definition using 'How Might We' statements, prototyping, and user testing. Hands-on training in digital fabrication including CAD, 3D printing, and laser cutting
Hakia Insight: Indiana University's mandatory capstone wraps the full design cycle (research → 'How Might We' → prototype → test) into a single course requirement, meaning every graduate leaves with a portfolio project that demonstrates methodology, not just deliverables.
The Bachelor of Science in Comprehensive Design is a hands-on, interdisciplinary program that teaches design thinking as a fundamental problem-solving approach addressing social challenges and user needs. Students explore multiple design disciplines including architecture, product design, furniture, public art, and creative placemaking. The curriculum emphasizes both analog and digital skills, including CAD, 3D modeling, 3D printing, laser cutting, and traditional prototyping techniques. A required Capstone Experience in the final year allows students to research, define, and prototype solutions through user interviews and iterative testing. The program fosters collaboration across disciplines and prepares graduates for professional graduate programs (such as the J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program M.Arch), advanced art and design studies, or careers in various design professions. Career support is provided through the Walter Center for Career Achievement, with internship opportunities available from first year onward, though employers typically prefer juniors and seniors. Faculty provide networking through job shadowing, field trips, guest speakers, and portfolio preparation assistance.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Comprehensive Design — 4 years, on-campus. BS
Research Labs and Institutes
- Human-Computer Interaction Lab (HCIL)
Location Advantages: Proximity to Chicago tech corridor and Indianapolis tech sceneRegional hub for software and IT services
Purdue University Northwest — Hammond, IN
Key Distinction: Purdue Northwest offers intimate mentorship and immediate real-world project experience in a Chicago-adjacent setting, ideal for students seeking close faculty guidance and regional industry connections.
Hakia Insight: Purdue Northwest's smaller cohort model in a Chicago-adjacent location creates an unusual advantage: direct faculty mentorship combined with immediate access to Fortune 500 UX teams (Google, Amazon, Salesforce) without the impersonal scale of a major research university.
At the bachelor's level, purdue Northwest's UX design pathway grows from its regional mission and smaller cohort model—a setting where faculty mentorship is direct and students build tighter industry networks within Northwest Indiana and the broader Chicago metropolitan area. The program integrates UX coursework within engineering and computer science curricula, emphasizing practical skill-building in wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and information architecture. What distinguishes the experience here is accessibility: students work closely with faculty on applied projects for regional companies and nonprofits, gaining real-world design portfolio pieces early and often. The campus location in Hammond, Indiana—at the edge of the Chicago metro—creates unique opportunities for internships and full-time placements at tech companies, design consultancies, and digital agencies both locally and just across state lines. Class sizes remain smaller than Purdue-Main, allowing students to receive detailed portfolio feedback and maintain ongoing mentorship relationships with instructors who actively practice design consulting. Graduates move into UX roles at regional tech hubs, consulting firms, and increasingly remote positions, armed with portfolios that reflect actual client work rather than assignments alone. The program's character is collaborative and career-focused, with deliberate connections to the larger Purdue alumni network while serving a student population often balancing work and academics.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in UX Design — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in UX Design — 4 years, online
Industry Partners
- Chicago-area digital agencies (corporate)
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Google, Amazon, Salesforce, Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase.
Location Advantages: Proximity to Chicago tech and digital design sectorAccess to regional startups and digital agenciesDirect connection to Fortune 500 headquarters in Northwest Indiana and Chicago
University of Evansville — Evansville, IN
Key Distinction: Grounded in liberal arts thinking, integrating psychology and cultural studies to develop designers who understand user motivation, not just interaction mechanics.
Hakia Insight: University of Evansville's integration of psychology and cultural studies into UX curriculum means graduates understand *why* users behave certain ways, a depth most design programs reserve for electives or leave to liberal arts minors.
At the bachelor's level, UE's design programs benefit from a strong liberal arts foundation that encourages students to see UX as both technical problem-solving and human storytelling. Rather than treating design as purely functional, coursework integrates psychology, communication, and cultural studies alongside digital tools and interaction patterns. This interdisciplinary approach produces designers who ask *why* users behave certain ways—not just *how* to build wireframes. The program maintains close ties with Evansville's manufacturing and healthcare sectors, creating internship pipelines into industries rapidly digitizing their operations. Small class sizes mean students receive substantive critique on portfolio work and can pursue independent projects with faculty mentorship. Graduates have gone on to roles at both established tech companies and startups, though the program's regional focus means stronger placement in Midwest markets than coasts. The curriculum incorporates emerging areas like service design and accessibility, signaling a program that evolves with the field rather than teaching a fixed toolkit. For students who thrive with personalized attention and interdisciplinary thinking, UE offers meaningful preparation.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in UX Design — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in UX Design — 4 years, online
Location Advantages: Regional hub for healthcare and manufacturing digitization initiatives
Butler University — Indianapolis, IN
Key Distinction: Butler's liberal arts-informed UX program uniquely emphasizes design as both rigorous methodology and humanistic inquiry, producing strategically-minded designers skilled at organizational communication.
Hakia Insight: Butler's emphasis on design as humanistic inquiry positions graduates to move beyond interface work into organizational strategy and communication—a rare positioning that opens doors to product management and design leadership roles earlier in careers.
At the bachelor's level, butler's UX design education is rooted in a liberal arts philosophy that treats design as both a systematic discipline and a humanistic inquiry. Located in Indianapolis, Butler offers an interdisciplinary UX program that draws strength from its business school, arts programs, and computer science faculty—creating unusual breadth. Students engage with user research through a genuinely exploratory lens, drawing on ethnographic and qualitative methods inspired by the humanities alongside quantitative testing. The curriculum includes strategic design coursework (business model innovation, design strategy) alongside tactical UX skills (wireframing, prototyping, interaction design), positioning graduates to contribute at multiple levels of product development. Butler's smaller size fosters close mentorship and collaborative projects; students often work directly with faculty on research or with Indianapolis-based startups and established firms on real problems. The emphasis on communication and storytelling—distinctive for a UX program—reflects Butler's liberal arts DNA and produces designers who can advocate for user-centered thinking across organizational contexts.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in UX Design — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in UX Design — 4 years, online
Location Advantages: Indianapolis startup ecosystemAccess to growing tech and digital media companies
Indiana Institute of Technology — Fort Wayne, IN
Key Distinction: Indiana Institute of Technology offers comprehensive UX Design programs preparing students for careers in technology.
Hakia Insight: Indiana Institute of Technology's Fort Wayne location provides direct access to regional manufacturing and industrial design sectors undergoing digital transformation, creating internship and employment pipelines invisible to students targeting coastal tech hubs.
Indiana Institute of Technology offers UX Design programs in Fort Wayne, IN. As a private institution, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region.
Grace College and Theological Seminary — Winona Lake, IN
Key Distinction: Grace College and Theological Seminary offers comprehensive UX Design programs preparing students for careers in technology.
Hakia Insight: Grace College's UX program in Winona Lake offers the rare combination of affordable tuition and regional employer connections in Indiana's growing tech corridor without compromising on hands-on design training.
Grace College and Theological Seminary offers UX Design programs in Winona Lake, IN. As a private institution, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region.
Anderson University — Anderson, IN
Key Distinction: Anderson University offers comprehensive UX Design programs preparing students for careers in technology.
Hakia Insight: Anderson University's location in Anderson, Indiana positions students within reach of Indianapolis's emerging startup ecosystem and healthcare IT sector, industries actively hiring UX designers with regional network advantages.
Anderson University offers UX Design programs in Anderson, IN. As a private institution, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region.
University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne — Fort Wayne, IN
Key Distinction: University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne offers comprehensive UX Design programs preparing students for careers in technology.
Hakia Insight: University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne's UX program serves the Fort Wayne manufacturing and logistics region, creating career pathways into industrial UX and B2B design—specialized markets with consistent hiring and less competition than consumer tech.
University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne offers UX Design programs in Fort Wayne, IN. As a private institution, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region.
Best Master's UX Design Degree Programs in Indiana
Purdue University-Main Campus — West Lafayette, IN
Key Distinction: Thesis vs. non-thesis capstone option: students admitted default to 6-credit non-thesis capstone (CGT 597-00) but may apply first semester to complete traditional research thesis. Experience Studio: vertically-integrated teams working on real-world projects with industry sponsors
Hakia Insight: Purdue's Experience Studio (vertically-integrated, industry-sponsored projects) combined with thesis-or-capstone flexibility lets career-changers choose between publishing research (valuable for PhD pipelines or academic roles) or shipping real products—a strategic choice most master's programs don't offer.
The MS in Computer Graphics Technology with a UX Design concentration is a 2-year, 36-credit program designed for working professionals and career-changers entering design, research, and management roles. Students choose between a non-thesis capstone (default) or traditional research thesis track. The program emphasizes human-centered problem-solving through core studios in UX fundamentals and cross-channel design, qualitative research methods, and foundational readings in UX/HCI. The Experience Studio offers real-world projects with industry sponsors. No prior UX experience required; students enter from diverse backgrounds (CS, engineering, architecture, etc.). Starting salaries average $69,000; mid-career salaries reach ~$97,000. A 3+2 accelerated pathway allows concurrent undergraduate/graduate enrollment with 9 shared credits. Flexible coursework spans CGT and cross-campus graduate programs.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Computer Graphics Technology - UX Design Concentration — 1-2 years, on-campus. MS
Research Labs and Institutes
- Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory
Industry Partners
- Eli Lilly (corporate)
- Roche (corporate)
- John Deere (corporate)
- Salesforce (corporate)
Career Outcomes
Median Salary: $NaN.
Notable Faculty
- Lorraine Kisselburgh — Design thinking, human-centered innovation, stakeholder engagement
Location Advantages: Proximity to Indianapolis tech and pharmaceutical corridor (Eli Lilly headquarters)Access to Fortune 500 manufacturers and enterprise software companiesMidwest industrial design ecosystem
University of Notre Dame — Notre Dame, IN
Key Distinction: Merges engineering excellence with humanistic inquiry, preparing designers who can justify design decisions on both technical and ethical grounds.
Hakia Insight: Notre Dame's master's program uniquely trains designers to articulate *why* decisions work through both engineering rigor and ethical reasoning, preparing graduates for senior roles where they must convince both technical and executive stakeholders.
At the master's level, notre Dame's approach to design education emphasizes the integration of engineering rigor with humanistic inquiry—a reflection of the university's broader ethos. UX design students work within programs that treat technology as a tool for solving real human problems, often with a social or ethical dimension. Coursework spans interaction design, user research methods, prototyping, and systems thinking, but always grounded in questions about impact and responsibility. The proximity to Notre Dame's engineering school means cross-disciplinary collaboration is normalized; design students regularly work alongside engineers and business students on capstone projects. Faculty include practitioners from major tech companies who bring real-world product challenges into the classroom. Internship networks extend nationally and internationally, with particularly strong placements in tech hubs like the Bay Area and Austin. The program's smaller size compared to state universities means individualized advising and the ability to shape your own specialization (e.g., toward social impact design, accessibility, or product strategy). Graduates report that Notre Dame's reputation opens doors at premium companies, and the emphasis on ethics and human-centered thinking differentiates alumni in interviews.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in UX Design — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in UX Design — 1-2 years, online
Location Advantages: Proximity to Chicago's design and tech communityMidwest tech growth corridor
