Industrial Design in USA (UG level)

Industrial / Product Design + STEM (USA)

College / University	Undergraduate Design Major	STEM Status	Approx. Annual Tuition	Portfolio Required
Georgia Institute of Technology	BS Industrial Design	Yes	~$32,000	No*
University of Cincinnati – DAAP	BS Industrial Design	Yes	~$28,000–30,000	Sometimes
Otis College of Art and Design	BFA Product Design	Yes	~$55,000	Yes
San Francisco State University	BS Industrial Design	Possibly	~$19,000	No
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	BFA Industrial Design	Possibly	~$40,000–50,000	Yes
Carnegie Mellon University	Bachelor of Design	Varies	~$80,000	Yes
Stanford University	BS Design	Check	~$80,000	No
Rhode Island School of Design	BFA Industrial Design	No†	~$55,000	Yes
Pratt Institute	BID Industrial Design	No†	~$58,000	Yes
California College of the Arts	BFA Product / Industrial Design	No†	~$54,000	Yes

1) Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)

Official Website:

https://www.gatech.edu/

Program: Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design — a design program that blends

human-centered problem solving with technology, creativity, and making products that solve

real-world problems. Georgia Tech’s Industrial Design is recognized as a human-centered

STEM degree (useful for OPT extension)

Apply as an Indian Student

• Apply via the common Georgia Tech international admissions portal.

• Required: high school transcripts, TOEFL/IELTS scores, SAT/ACT (optional

depending on year), essays, recommendations, financial documents for I-20, etc.

Fee Structure (approx.)

• Tuition & fees: around $32,000+ per year (for undergrads; public-university rates).

• Living expenses: estimate $12,000+ per year (housing, meals, insurance, supplies)

Is it STEM?

Yes — Industrial Design is STEM-recognized at Georgia Tech.

2) University of Cincinnati – DAAP

Official Website:

https://www.uc.edu/daap.html Program : Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design — develops product design skills and

includes a strong co-op work experience component (industry placements).

Apply as an Indian Student

• Apply through UC’s common application portal.

• Required: high school transcripts, TOEFL/IELTS/PTE/Duolingo, possibly portfolio

guidelines, financial statements for I-20.

Fee Structure (approx.)

• Tuition & fees for DAAP: around $28,000-$30,000 USD per year (undergraduate).

• Total cost including living: around $50,000+ per year (tuition + housing +

insurance).

Is it STEM?

Yes — DAAP’s Industrial Design has a STEM CIP code, making it eligible for the OPT

extension.

3) Otis College of Art and Design

Official Website:

https://www.otis.edu/

Program: BFA in Product Design — focuses on creative design skills, 3D making, strategy,

and product development. This is a STEM-designated degree, enabling extended OPT

(Optional Practical Training) for international students.

Apply as an Indian Student

• Apply via Otis admissions portal.

• Required: portfolio, high school transcripts, TOEFL/IELTS, essays, financial

documentation for I-20.

• Otis offers international student support & visa guidance.

Fee Structure (approx.)

• Tuition & fees: about $55,000+ per year. (Art/design private college pricing)

Is it STEM?

Yes — Otis Product Design BFA is STEM-designated.

4) San Francisco State University (SFSU)Official Website:

https://www.sfsu.edu/

Program: BS in Industrial Design (Product Design & Development) — 4-year degree

focusing on product creation, people, technology, and aesthetics.design.sfsu.edu

Apply as an Indian Student

• Apply via Cal State Apply (California State University system).

• Required: high school certificates, TOEFL/IELTS/PTE, financial documents for

SEVIS/I-20.

•

Fee Structure (approx.)

• Tuition: around $19,000-$20,000 USD per year (undergraduate for international

students).

• Living expenses: additional $15,000-$18,000 annually depending on housing and city

cost.

Is it STEM?

Many CSU design degrees are not officially STEM CIP coded → check directly with SFSU

admissions for STEM/OPT eligibility.

5) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)

Official Website:

https://www.illinois.edu/

Program: UIUC offers Industrial Design through the School of Art & Design (BFA) —

product and user-centered design education.

Apply as an Indian Student

• Apply via the UIUC admissions portal.

• Required: high school transcripts, TOEFL/IELTS, portfolio for design BFA, financial

proof for visa.

Fee Structure (approx.)

• Tuition for international undergraduates: roughly $39,000-$49,000 USD per year,

plus housing & food (~$15,000).admissions.illinois.edu

Is it STEM?

The Industrial Design BFA isn’t always coded as STEM — confirm with UIUC Art &

Design admissions.

6) Carnegie Mellon University

Official Website:

https://www.cmu.edu/

Program: Bachelor of Design (BDes) — design majors with technology integration and

product focus. Carnegie Mellon is highly ranked for design & tech\

Apply as an Indian Student

• Apply via Carnegie Mellon admissions.

• Requirements: transcripts, TOEFL/IELTS, SAT/ACT (optional), portfolio (if

relevant), essays, financial docs.

Fee Structure (approx.)

• Tuition & fees: around $80,000+ per year (private university).

• Living costs: ~$15,000+ annually.

Is it STEM?

admissions.

Some design tracks may be STEM; confirm specific major’s CIP code with CMU

7) Stanford University

Official Website:

https://www.stanford.edu/

Program: Bachelor of Science in Design — interdisciplinary design + technology +

engineering.

Apply as an Indian Student

• Apply via Stanford admissions.

• Requirements: transcripts, TOEFL/IELTS (or Duolingo), Common App, letters of

recommendation, essays, financial documentation.

Fee Structure (approx.)

• Tuition & fees: ~$80,000+ per year.

• Living, books, personal: ~$15,000+.

Is it STEM?

Often interdisciplinary — check Design major STEM/OPT status directly.

8) Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)

Official Website:

https://www.risd.edu/

Program: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design (RISD) — highly respected

product/industrial design education.

Apply as an Indian Student

• Apply via RISD admissions (CSS Profile + Common App + portfolio).

• TOEFL/IELTS, transcripts, portfolio are required.

Fee Structure (approx.)

• Tuition & fees: ~$55,000+ per year (private art/design school).

• Living expenses extra.

Is it STEM?

admissions.

RISD degrees typically are not coded as STEM (arts designation).

9) Pratt Institute

Official Website:

https://www.pratt.edu/

Program: Bachelor of Industrial Design (BID) — focus on 3D form, model making, digital

design, sustainability.

Apply as an Indian Student

• Apply via Pratt admissions (portfolio required).

• TOEFL/IELTS, transcripts, financial docs for I-20.

Fee Structure (approx.)

• Tuition & fees: ~$58,000+ per year (private).

• Additional living costs apply.

Is it STEM?

Pratt design degrees are generally not STEM-designated.

10) California College of the Arts (CCA)

Official Website:

https://www.cca.edu/

Program: Industrial Design / Product Design BFA — focuses on creativity, making,

materials, and design thinking.

Apply as an Indian Student

• Apply via CCA admissions (portfolio, TOEFL/IELTS).

• Proof of funds for I-20 required.

Fee Structure (approx.)

• Tuition & fees: ~$54,000+ per year (private art/design).

• Living & materials additional.

Is it STEM?

CCA design programs usually not STEM-coded.