| Ranking | School | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Washington | Washington |
| 2 | University of Michigan | Michigan |
| 3 | University of California, San Diego | California |
| 4 | Purdue University | Indiana |
| 5 | Arizona State University | Arizona |
| 6 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Illinois |
| 7 | University of Texas at Austin | Texas |
| 8 | University of Maryland | Maryland |
| 9 | Rutgers University | New Jersey |
| 10 | University of California, Irvine | California |
Our 2025 rankings of the Top 10 public undergraduate UX/UI/HCI school programs in the US. For an explanation of ranking criteria, click here.
The College of Engineering at University of Washington (UW) houses a Human Centered Design and Engineering (HCDE) BS program that combines engineering coursework with flexible free electives and experiential learning. Course examples include Concepts in Human-Computer Interaction; Human Data Interaction; and Strategic Human Centered Artificial Intelligence. Experiential learning includes study abroad experiences, internships, and independent research. UW alumni go on to land positions at places such as Boeing, Getty Images, Amazon, T-Mobile, IBM, Google, Starbucks, Disney, Adobe, Nike, Hitachi, Cisco, Microsoft, IBM, Apple, NBC Universal, RTX Corporation, Intel, Verizon, Intuit, Uber, and SpaceX.
The School of Information at University of Michigan (U-M) was the first iSchool in the world to launch an integrated BS in Information (BSI). The program is also one of the few to provide a UX Design concentration, which highlights courses such as Human-Computer Interaction; Building Data-Driven Applications; and Needs Assessment and Usability Evaluation. Other program features include dual degree options; study abroad in places such as the UK and Spain; and internships. Nearly all U-M BSI graduates work in their field of choice. Program alumni have been hired at places such as Google, IBM, Amazon, Microsoft, Epic Systems, NBCUniversal, Visa, Samsung, P&G, Nike, EY, PepsiCo, and BetMGM.
The School of Social Sciences at University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego) houses the World’s first Department of Cognitive Science (CogSci). Within the department is a Cognitive Science BS with a project-based specialization in Design and Interaction. Areas explored include user experience (UX) design, human-computer interaction (HCI), and usability research. Internship opportunities, study abroad experiences, practicums, and the HCI Portfolio Design Studio are all part of the program. Students can also add the UC San Diego User Experience (UX) Design certificate provided through Extended Studies. Graduates of the CogSci BS and UX certificate program have been hired at places such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, IBM, Abbott, Sony, IDEO, Capital One, Hitachi, Adobe, and Qualcomm.
Purdue Polytechnic Institute at Purdue University (Purdue) houses a User Experience (UX) Design BS program that takes place in a studio environment. Learning Studios include user research, creating and assessing prototypes, and solving problems. In the Experience Studios, students will apply the skills acquired in the Learning Studios to projects for industry clients. Upon completion of the program, students will have 3.5 years of marketable experience. Graduates have been hired at places such as Amazon, Microsoft, Google, HP, Expedia, P&G, JPMorgan Chase, PepsiCo, United Airlines, and Citigroup.
Arizona State University (ASU) is home to the nation’s largest engineering program. The Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering serves nearly 32,000 students across eight schools, 25 undergraduate programs, and nearly 50 graduate programs. Among Ira’s schools is The Polytechnic School, which houses a Human Systems Engineering (User Experience) BS program with on-campus and online options. All students also have the opportunity to complete an internship and study abroad experience in one of more than 65 countries. Graduates have been hired at places such as Boeing, Intel, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Google, Oracle, Adobe, Qualcomm, Meta, Deloitte, Walmart, JPMorgan Chase, Banner Health, and PayPal.
The School of Information Sciences at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) houses one of the oldest existing Library and Information Science (LIS) doctoral programs in the U.S. Known as the iSchool at Illinois, the school also houses a STEM-designated, interdisciplinary BS in Information Sciences (BSIS) with a Human Computer Interaction (HCI)/User Experience (UX) pathway. Students in this program have the option to enroll in courses, minors, certificates, or dual degrees from complementing disciplines such as Human Centered Design, Computer Science, or Graphic Design. Course examples for the pathway include Introduction to HCI; Topics in Human-Centered Design and Systems; and Design of Usable Interfaces. BSIS HCI/UX graduates go on to land positions at places such as Disney, Google, Boeing, NBCUniversal, Microsoft, Apple, Intel, Intuit, AbbVie, T-Mobile, Getty Images, and Nike.
The School of Information (iSchool) at University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) launched an interdisciplinary undergraduate Informatics program in 2021. Leading to a BA or BS, the program has a User Experience (UX) Design concentration that provides access to the state-of-the-art Information eXperience Lab (IX Lab) and the Immersive Human Development Lab. Students also have opportunities to complete an internship. The program culminates with a semester-long capstone. Graduates have gone on to become UX designers, researchers, and analysts at places such as Amazon, Google, AT&T, Dell, Apple, IBM, Accenture, JPMorgan Chase, American Airlines, Deloitte, Expedia, and Athenahealth.
The College of Information (INFO College) at University of Maryland (UMD) houses the Technology and Information Design (InfoDesign) BA program. Students have the unique opportunity to work with one of more than 400 industry partners through the INFO Corporate Partnership Program. Students also have access to research centers and labs such as the Human-Computer Interaction Lab (HCIL); the Values-Centered Artificial Intelligence (VCAI) Initiative; and the Computational Linguistics and Information Processing (CLIP) Lab. INFO College graduates can be found at places such as Google, IBM, Northrup Grumman, Amazon, the Smithsonian Institution, P&G, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Carnival Corporation.
The School of Communication and Information at Rutgers University (Rutgers) houses an Information Technology and Informatics (ITI) BS that allows students to build a specialized focus to match their goals. Elective examples include Human-Computer Interaction (HCI); Advanced Web Design Technologies; and Information Visualization. Students can also add a minor such as Art or Computer Science. All Rutgers ITI BS students have access to the Intelligent Visual Interfaces (IVI) Lab, which focuses on research in HCI, visual computing, and artificial intelligence (AI). Rutgers technology graduates have been hired at places such as Lockheed Martin, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson, and Goldman Sachs.
University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine or UCI) houses the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences (ICS). Within the school is the Department of Informatics, which has an Informatics BS program with a Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) concentration. This interdisciplinary program provides hands-on experience through core courses in HCI and project-based courses such as Information Visualization; Software Design - Applications; and Programming in Java as a Second Language. The program culminates with a capstone course sponsored by an outside company or organization. UCI ICS graduates have gone on to secure positions at places such as Google, Disney, Microsoft, Blizzard Entertainment, EY, CrowdStrike, UCI Health, Turion Space, Acorns, and Kofax.
