Discover the best value ux design programs that deliver quality education without breaking the bank. Ranked by our Value Score algorithm that balances academic quality with affordability.
$4,560/yr in-state — among the most affordable
Ranked #1 among UX design bachelor's programs by Hakia Score (69.5/100): 52% graduation rate, $104,000 median salary, $4,560 in-state tuition, 66 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$6,084/yr in-state — among the most affordable
Ranked #2 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.
$6,535/yr in-state — among the most affordable
Ranked #3 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.
$10,512/yr in-state — among the most affordable
Ranked #4 among UX design bachelor's programs by Hakia Score (96.4/100): 94% graduation rate, $104,000 median salary, $10,512 in-state tuition, 76 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$11,016/yr in-state — among the most affordable
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.
$11,685/yr in-state — among the most affordable
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.
$11,869/yr in-state — among the most affordable
Ranked #7 among UX design doctorate programs by Hakia Score (100/100): 85% graduation rate, $104,000 median salary, $11,869 in-state tuition, 9 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$12,742/yr in-state — among the most affordable
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.
$14,975/yr in-state — among the most affordable
Ranked #9 among UX design bachelor's programs by Hakia Score (86.3/100): 85% graduation rate, $104,000 median salary, $14,975 in-state tuition, 40 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$20,066/yr in-state — among the most affordable
Ranked #10 among UX design bachelor's programs by Hakia Score (84.1/100): 86% graduation rate, $104,000 median salary, $20,066 in-state tuition, 45 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
Hakia ranks Kennesaw State University's bachelor's ux design program #1. Degree: Bachelor's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Kennesaw, GA | Type: Public | Tuition: $4,560/year | Graduation Rate: 52% | Median Salary: $104,000 | Score: 69.5
Hakia ranks California State University-Long Beach's master's ux design program #2. 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 North Carolina State University at Raleigh's master's ux design program #3. 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 Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus's bachelor's ux design program #4. Degree: Bachelor's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Atlanta, GA | Type: Public | Tuition: $10,512/year | Graduation Rate: 94% | Median Salary: $104,000 | Score: 96.4
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 University of Washington-Seattle Campus's doctorate ux design program #7. Degree: Doctorate (research). Delivery: on-campus. Location: Seattle, WA | Type: Public | Tuition: $11,869/year | Graduation Rate: 85% | Median Salary: $104,000 | Score: 100.0
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 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's bachelor's ux design program #9. Degree: Bachelor's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Champaign, IL | Type: Public | Tuition: $14,975/year | Graduation Rate: 85% | Median Salary: $104,000 | Score: 86.3
Hakia ranks Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus's bachelor's ux design program #10. Degree: Bachelor's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: University Park, PA | Type: Public | Tuition: $20,066/year | Graduation Rate: 86% | Median Salary: $104,000 | Score: 84.1
| School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Massachusetts College of Art and Design | Boston, MA | Public | $1,030 | 98% | 100.0/100 |
| #2 Elizabeth City State University | Elizabeth City, NC | Public | $1,000 | 99% | 94.1/100 |
| #3 Fitchburg State University | Fitchburg, MA | Public | $970 | N/A | 85.7/100 |
| #4 Gulf Coast State College | Panama City, FL | Public | $1,750 | 90% | 57.4/100 |
| #5 Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton, FL | Public | $2,522 | 78% | 41.7/100 |
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 | Bachelor's in UX Design Kennesaw State UniversityKennesaw, GA · Public | On-campus | $4,560 | 52% | $104,000 | 69.5 |
| #2 | Master's in UX Design California State University-Long BeachLong Beach, CA · Public | On-campus | $6,084 | 69% | $104,000 | 72.4 |
| #3 | Master's in UX Design North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh, NC · Public | On-campus | $6,535 | 85% | $104,000 | 85.2 |
| #4 | Bachelor's in UX Design Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusAtlanta, GA · Public | On-campus | $10,512 | 94% | $104,000 | 96.4 |
| #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 | Doctorate in UX Design University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA · Public | On-campus | $11,869 | 85% | $104,000 | 100.0 |
| #8 | Master's in UX Design Kent State University at KentKent, OH · Public | Online | $12,742 | 64% | $104,000 | 63.2 |
| #9 | Bachelor's in UX Design University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL · Public | On-campus | $14,975 | 85% | $104,000 | 86.3 |
| #10 | Bachelor's in UX Design Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, PA · Public | On-campus | $20,066 | 86% | $104,000 | 84.1 |
| #11 | Bachelor's in UX Design Robert Morris UniversityMoon Township, PA · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $34,360 | 66% | $104,000 | 60.6 |
| #12 | Bachelor's in UX Design Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $46,175 | 69% | $104,000 | 67.6 |
| #13 | Bachelor's in UX Design Lebanon Valley CollegeAnnville, PA · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $50,600 | 65% | $104,000 | 60.1 |
| #14 | Bachelor's in UX Design Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $60,042 | 78% | $104,000 | 75.4 |
| #15 | Master's in UX Design Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofit | Online | $64,596 | 94% | $104,000 | 89.1 |
| #16 | Bachelor's in UX Design University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $69,904 | 92% | $104,000 | 89.7 |
Showing all 16 ranked programs.
Design user interfaces and experiences for digital products and applications
Focus on visual design and interactive elements of digital interfaces
Conduct user research and usability testing to inform design decisions
Lead design strategy and user experience across entire product lifecycles
Structure and organize digital content and navigation systems
Financial aid significantly reduces the actual cost of UX design education. The most affordable programs in our rankings provide financial aid to 75-85% of students, with average aid packages ranging from $8,000-$15,000 annually. This aid comes through federal grants, state programs, institutional scholarships, and work-study opportunities.
Pell Grant eligibility provides up to $7,395 annually for students with demonstrated financial need (Federal Student Aid). Many public universities supplement federal aid with state grants and institutional scholarships specifically for in-state students pursuing STEM and design fields.
Students should explore specialized scholarships for women in tech and design-specific funding opportunities. Organizations like Adobe, AIGA, and the National Center for Women & Information Technology offer scholarships ranging from $1,000-$10,000 for UX design students.
Merit-based scholarships at affordable public universities often require 3.5+ GPAs and strong portfolios. Many programs offer renewable scholarships worth $2,000-$8,000 annually for students maintaining academic standards and demonstrating continued interest in UX design careers.
Based on 742 programs from IPEDS 2024
Kennesaw State University's Bachelor's in UX Design leads our ranking of 16 most affordable ux design programs, scored on graduation rate, selectivity, career outcomes, and cost using IPEDS 2024 and BLS data. Graduates step into a field where the median wage runs about $104,000.
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.
Tuition, fees, and institutional data from the National Center for Education Statistics
Graduate earnings, employment rates, and loan default data from the Department of Education
Employment projections and salary data for UX design and web development occupations
Financial aid programs, Pell Grant amounts, and FAFSA requirements
The cost difference between public and private UX design programs is substantial. In-state students at public universities pay an average of $12,500 annually for tuition and fees, while private institution costs average $45,000 per year. This represents a potential savings of $130,000 over four years when choosing public education.
Total program costs extend beyond tuition to include housing, meals, books, and supplies. Public university students spend $98,000-$120,000 for a complete four-year UX design degree, including living expenses. Private university students often face total costs of $200,000-$280,000 for the same education level.
Students pursuing online UX design degrees can reduce costs further by eliminating campus housing and commuting expenses. Online programs from accredited public universities offer the same curriculum and degrees as on-campus versions while providing flexibility for working students.
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.