Did you know? Savannah College of Art and Design user experience (UX) design students solve real-world problems for major companies such as 3M, Instagram, Capital One, Hewlett-Packard, The Home Depot, and Microsoft. Learn more.
What are the top undergraduate User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), and Human Computer Interaction (HCI) schools in the East?
| Ranking | School | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carnegie Mellon University | Pennsylvania |
| 2 | Cornell University | New York |
| 3 | Drexel University | Pennsylvania |
| 4 | University of Maryland | Maryland |
| 5 | Rutgers University | New Jersey |
Our 2025 rankings of the Top 5 undergraduate UX/UI/HCI school programs on the East Coast. For reference, we define the East Coast as New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, Rhode Island, Delaware, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. For an explanation of ranking criteria, click here.
1. Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Carnegie Mellon University’s Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) major launched in 2020, making it one of the world’s first undergraduate programs of its kind. Housed in the School of Computer Sciences’ (SCS) HCI Institute (HCII), the program has BS, second major, minor, and concentration options. All students have opportunities to engage in projects that focus on digital technologies such as virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), IoT, and fabrication. The program culminates with a team-based capstone course. Graduates are prepared to pursue titles such as UX Designer, Front-End Engineer, Interaction Designer, and UX Engineer. They can be found at places such as Apple, Google, and Amazon.
2. Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
The Information Science major at Cornell University is provided in the College of Arts and Sciences; Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science (Cornell Bowers CIS); and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). Depending on the college, students can earn a BA or a BS and concentrate in UX Design. All programs highlight hands-on learning, immersive coursework, and experiential learning opportunities such as internships and study abroad experiences. Programs culminate with a final project and portfolio of the student’s best work. Graduates can be found at places such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Deloitte, Visa, P&G, Capital One, Accenture, and Meta.
3. Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design at Drexel University houses a User Experience and Interaction Design (UXID) BS program that explores User Interface (UI); Information Architecture (IA); Content Strategy; Project Management; and Full Stack Development. Students have the opportunity to collaborate with other art and design students through Drexel’s in-house lifestyle magazine, graphic design firm, and record label. Students also have opportunities to work with major companies and studios through the school’s co-op program. Drexel UXID graduates have gone on to launch their own studios, pursue graduate studies, or secure positions at places such as Boeing, Amazon, Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, Google, NBCUniversal, PwC, Goldman Sachs, and SAP.
4. University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
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.
5. Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
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.