MA in Industrial Design Cost

How Much Does an MA in Industrial Design Cost?

Medium: MAs Average $13,800 a year at Public Universities; $36,300 at Private Universities.

Deciding how everyday products should look, feel and function is the job of industrial designers. Earning a Master of Fine Arts in industrial design takes two to three years, depending on the program, and the emphasis is on applied skills rather than a strictly academic approach.

Typical costs:

Tuition and fees for a master's degree program average $6,900 a semester at public universities and $18,150 a semester at private universities, according to the National Center for Education Services. The total cost averages $27,600 -$72,600 for a two-year MFA program or $41,300 -$108,900 for one that lasts three years.
USNews.com ranks the top master's programs for industrial design. Topping the list is the Art Center College of Design<

What should be included:

Working from sketches, clay or foam moldings or computer programs, industrial designers create items ranging from cars to alarm clocks, cell phones to CAT scans and more. Projects might include designing products, packaging, exhibits, interior spaces or simplifying the software driving a product. The Industrial Designers Society of America provides an overview of the industry and a brochure on careers in industrial design.
Industrial design students should be strong in math, science and art, as the field combines all three skills. Admission to an MFA program typically requires a bachelor's degree in a related field and a fairly extensive portfolio showing several examples of the student's best work. Graduation usually requires a thesis or research project. The Princeton Review provides basic information about industrial design programs.

Additional costs:

Professional-grade supplies are required for design projects and can be costly. The estimate for books and other supplies is $1,800 a year at North Carolina University and $1,800 a semester at the Art Center College of Design.
Health insurance is included in the tuition for some universities, such as Art Center College of Design, but at others it can cost an additional $800 -$1,900 a year.
Living expenses vary by location, so check individual school websites for estimated local costs. The Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia estimates housing and meal costs at $6,555 -$9,160 for the nine-month academic year, while the San Francisco Academy of Art charges $6,800 -$11,000 for nine months of on-campus housing.

Shopping for an ma in industrial design:

The Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) provides a lists of industrial design schools accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design. You can also check to see if a particular school has a student IDSA chapter.The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design offers a list of schools worldwide.Note: Ask if a school offers particular specializations within the major, such as furniture or transportation design, and if its classrooms, labs and studios are equipped with current technology. CollegeBoard.com offers a checklist.

Article updated July 2008