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 South?
| Ranking | School | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Savannah College of Art and Design | Georgia |
| 2 | Full Sail University | Florida |
| 3 | University of Tennessee | Tennessee |
| 4 | University of Kentucky | Kentucky |
| 5 | Kennesaw State University | Georgia |
Our 2025 rankings of the Top 5 undergraduate UX/UI/HCI school programs in the South. For reference, we define the South as Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas. For an explanation of ranking criteria, click here.
1. Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, Georgia
Developed in collaboration with Google, the undergraduate User Experience (UX) Design BFA program at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) provides the opportunity to work with major corporations such as Microsoft, HP, and Capital One. The school also houses a User Experience Research (UXR) BFA that provides the same opportunities. For students in other SCAD programs, a UX minor is available. Graduates of the UX programs at SCAD have been hired at places such as Google, IBM, Amazon, Microsoft, Lenovo, Apple, JPMorgan Chase, Deloitte Digital, FedEx, Volvo, EY, Uber, and Meta.
2. Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Full Sail University provides two paths to study user experience (UX) design: the accelerated UX BS and a 28-week UX certificate. Course examples across programs include UI Visual Design and Prototyping; Information Visualization; Interactive Media Design and Usability; UX Production; and Systems Design. BS students will also complete six hands-on project and portfolio courses, culminating with a multimedia postmortem presentation. Full Sail UX graduates have been hired at places such as NASA, Universal Studios, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Sony, Apple, Unity, Disney, Google, HBO, and Insomniac Games.
3. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, Tennessee
The College of Communication and Information (CCI) at University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT) is home to the School of Information Sciences (SIS), which houses the state’s first undergraduate Information Sciences program. Leading to a BS, the program has a concentration in User Experience Design (UXD). Course examples include Foundations of User Experience; Interfaces and Interaction Design; Usability Testing and Methods; and Analytics and Metrics for User Experience. Global study, independent research, practicums, and internships are also part of the program. SIS graduates have been hired at places such as Microsoft, Google, Deloitte, Amazon, Pella Corporation, Red Ventures, and Accenture.
4. University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
The College of Design (CoD) at University of Kentucky (UK) houses a Product Design BS program that focuses on the processes involved in developing user-centered products. With 23 required elective credits, students can earn a minor or customize a specialization in UX/UI. All BS students will participate in a number of immersive design studios and take courses such as UX + UI for Product Design; Advanced Materials and Processes; Design Management; and Means of Production-Prototyping. UK graduates have gone on to establish careers at places such as Humana, Ashland, GE, Toyota, Baptist Health, Lexmark, Fidelity, Valvoline, Citigroup, Norton Healthcare, Yum! Brands, Chewy, and Alltech.
5. Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia
Kennesaw State University (KSU) houses the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Within the college is the Department of Technical Communication and Interactive Design—home to the Interactive Design BS program. Coursework focuses on areas such as interaction, user experience (UX), and user interface (UI) design. Other program highlights include hands-on courses, workshops, team-building activities, and internship opportunities. The program culminates with a portfolio showcase. KSU graduates can be found at places such as Lockheed Martin, Amazon, Microsoft, Cognizant, Deloitte, Atlanta Braves, JPMorgan Chase, Dell, Cisco, Verizon, Disney, KPMG, and Target.