MS in UI/UX Design in USA
Study Abroad Expert July 19, 2024

MS in UI/UX Design in the USA: Universities, Admissions, Costs

Are you a student who has a keen interest in design and wants to pursue it as a career by studying abroad? The USA is among the best places to pursue an MS in UI/UX Design. The US has many top international universities that help students pursue UI/UX design courses.  

An MS in design in the USA offers different programs, such as Fashion design, graphics, illustration, and architecture. To get admission to the top colleges, you must have a good portfolio showcasing your work and past work.  

In this blog, Shuraa Education will help you learn more about the MS in UI/UX Design in the USA, what documents are needed, what scholarships you can get, and more. Continue to read 

Why do students choose a Master’s in UI UX design in the USA?  

Students choose a master’s in UI UX design in the USA because it’s an interesting course to pursue. Many students who are good at creativity choose to take this course. The focus of this course is to create interaction between customers and products. Whenever you use any online application on your phones you get to see different set of backgrounds of the application, that work is done by a UX UI designer.  

A Master’s in UI and UX helps to create appealing products for customers as per their needs. You need some technical skill sets to create a precise design and you should differently be creative in this field. Creativity is the key for this course as it’s the primary reason many students go and choose this degree.  

UX UI design is a very competitive field. It gives many opportunities for students to enhance their career growth, specialisation, creativity, and freelancing helps one to choose this master’s degree.  

Top universities for UI/UX design in the USA 

The following are some of the best universities for UI/UX design in the USA: 

S.NO  University Name   QS World Ranking   City 
1.  Cornell University  21  Ithaca 
2.  The University of Michigan – Ann Arbor  23  Ann Arbor 
3.  Northeastern University – Boston   342  Boston 
4.  Worcester Polytechnic Institute  Between 751 and 800  Worcester 
5.  George Washington University  355  Ashburn 
6.  The University of Delaware  Between 531 and 540  Newark 
8.  Temple University  Between 751 and 800  Philadelphia 
 9. Arizona State University  216  Tempe 
10.  DePaul University  NA  Chicago 
11.  Kent State University  Between 1001 and 1200  Kent 

Eligibility Criteria for Masters in Design in the USA for International Students 

Most universities in the USA have the following eligibility criteria for international students applying for a Master’s in Design: 

  • Educational Qualifications: A BA, BFA, or BS degree from an accredited institution 
  • Professional Experience: At least 2–5 years of prior professional experience 
  • Letters of Recommendation (LOR): Two academic and one professional LOR 
  • Statement of Purpose (SOP): A 500-750 word SOP 
  • Transcripts: Official or certified copies of transcripts 
  • Submit your Resume or CV: An updated resume or CV 
  • Portfolio: A portfolio showcasing relevant work 
  • Personal Interview: You can be asked to give a personal interview 
  • Passport: A valid passport 
  • Visa: A US student visa 
  • English Proficiency: Proof of English proficiency, which can be demonstrated through: 
  • IELTS: Overall score between 6.5 and 8 
  • TOEFL iBT: Overall score between 79 and 100 

How to Apply for a Master’s in UI/UX Design in the USA 

If you want to study for a Master’s in UI/UX Design in the USA, below are the steps to help you understand the process.  

Step 1: Get the Required Documents 

  • Bachelor’s degree 
  • Statement of Purpose (SOP) 
  • 2-3 Letters of Recommendation (LORs) 
  • GRE scorecard (if required) 
  • You should submit your English language proficiency test scores (IELTS, TOEFL, etc.) 
  • Portfolio 

Step 2: Apply Online 

The second step is to Visit the website of your selected university and select the course page. Now Click on the “Apply Now” option. After clicking, fill out the application form with your academic and personal credentials. 

Step 3: Follow the University Procedures 

The third step is to Follow the subsequent steps on the university’s website to proceed with your application. 

Step 4: Submit Documents and Pay Fees 

After following the University Procedures, submit all required documents and pay the application fee per the university’s guidelines. 

Step 5: Apply for a Student Visa 

The second last step is, if you receive an offer letter, apply for an F1, M1, or J1 Student Visa based on your course type. Then, prepare yourself t   o go to the USA. 

Step 6: Finalise Enrollment 

The last step is the final enrollment, where you Complete any additional steps required by the university to finalise your enrollment. 

UI/UX admission requirements in the USA 

Below are the UI/UX admission requirements in the USA: 

University  Bachelor’s Degree Requirements  English Language Requirements 
Parsons School of Design at the New School  Bachelor’s degree in arts or design with 5+ years of professional experience  IELTS: 7 (with at least 6.5 in each band) | TOEFL: 92 
Rhode Island School of Design  4-year bachelor’s degree with a 3.0+ GPA from a recognised university  IELTS: 6.5 (with at least 6 in each band) | TOEFL: 93 
School of Art Institute of Chicago  4-year bachelor’s degree from a recognised university  IELTS: 6.5 (with at least 6 in each band) | TOEFL: 85 (at least 21 in each section) 
Pratt Institute  3-year bachelor’s degree from a recognised university  IELTS: 6.5 (with at least 6 in each band) | TOEFL: 79 
Art Center of Design  Bachelor’s degree in Arts or Design from a recognised university  IELTS: 7.5 (with at least 7 in each band) | TOEFL: 100 (at least 25 in each section) 
Stanford University  BA/BFA/BS from an accredited institution with at least 3 years of professional experience  TOEFL: 100 (at least 25 in each section) 
Carnegie Mellon University  Bachelor’s degree in arts or design from a recognised university with at least 2 years of professional experience  IELTS: 7.5 (with at least 7 in each band) | TOEFL: 102 (at least 25 in each section) 
California Institute of Arts  BA/BFA/BS from an accredited institution | 3-year bachelor’s degree from India with grade A  IELTS: 6.5 (with at least 6 in each band) | TOEFL: 80 
School of Visual Arts  Bachelor’s degree in arts or design from a recognised university  IELTS: 8 (with at least 7.5 in each band) | TOEFL: 100 (at least 25 in each section) 
Columbia University  First bachelor’s degree, B.Arch., or March from a recognised university with at least 5 years of professional experience  IELTS: 7 (with at least 6.5 in each band) | TOEFL: 100 (at least 25 in each section) 

Tuition Fees for a Master’s in UI/UX Design in the USA 

The tuition fees for a Master’s in UI/UX design in the USA depend on the level and the course prerequisites. The estimated tuition cost can range between ₹ $9,70,000 and ₹ $44,00,000, or $12,507 to $56,734 USD.  

University  Program  Application Deadlines  Tuition Fee per year (USD) 
Parsons School of Design at the New School  MFA: Design and Technology | MFA: Fashion Design and Society | MPS: Fashion Management  5 Jan 2024  $59,460 (INR 53,83,589) 
Rhode Island School of Design  MFA: Graphic Design | MID: Industrial Design  November 1 2024  $61,564 (INR 55,74,088) 
School of Art Institute of Chicago  MFA in Studio: Design for Emerging Technologies  10 Jan 2024  $57,780 (INR 52,31,479) 
Pratt Institute  MFA: Interior Design  5 Jan 2024 

April 5, 2024 

$51240 (INR 46,39,339) 
Art Center of Design  MFA: Graphic Design | Media Design Practice | Transportation Systems and Design  Fall term – November 15, 2024 

Spring term – October 1, 2024 

$56,104 INR 50,78,732 
Stanford University  MFA in Design  1 Dec 2023  58,746 
Carnegie Mellon University  MA in Design  15 Jan 2024  $45,000 INR 40,74,361 
California Institute of Arts  MFA: Design | MDes: Interaction Design  5 Jan 2024  $58,318 INR 52,80,191 
School of Visual Arts  MFA: Design | MFA: Design for Social Innovation | MA: Design Research, Writing, and Criticism  15 Jan 2024  $57,370 INR 51,99,225 

UI/UX master’s degree USA: Scholarships 

Many talented students willing to pursue a UI/UX master’s degree in the USA somehow can’t afford the college fees. For that, many universities provide scholarships to such talented students. Some of the best and top scholarships in the USA are as follows:  

Scholarship  University  Eligibility  Award 
Pratt Restricted Awards and Scholarship  Pratt Institute  Full-time students with academic excellence have financial needs  USD 100 to 1,000 
Teknik Student Loans  Carnegie Mellon University  Individuals with at least a 3.0 out of 4.0 GPA having a financial need  USD 2,500 t 5,000 
Visionary Practice Scholarship  California Institute of Arts  US graduate applicants who have completed FAFSA or California Dream Act Application (CADA)  Up to USD 26,000 per year 
SVA Matching Outside Scholarship  School of Visual Arts  Full-time students with academic excellence have financial needs  Up to 2,500 per year 
Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarships  US Government  Citizen of a country with Rotary clubs | 2 years of college course work or equivalent  Up to 25,000 USD 
Fulbright Scholarships for Indians  US Government  Indian citizen | Academic excellence | English proficiency  Monthly stipend, Tuition, and cost of attendance coverage 
Inlaks Scholarship  US Government  Indian citizen | Minimum 65-75% marks  100,000 USD 
AAUW International Fellowship  US Government  Non-US-based women pursuing master’s and doctoral programs in the USA  20,000-50,000 USD 
JN Tata Endowment Fund (loan)  US Government  Indian citizens | Bachelor’s degree | Minimum 60% marks  1,00,000-10,00,000INR  

Cost of Living in the USA 

An MS in UI/UX Design in the USA is the top choice of course for students. Below are the costs of living mentioned for studying in the USA.  

Expense Type  Cost Per Month (USD)  Monthly Cost Equivalent (INR) 
On-campus Accommodation  2,450 to 2,775  1.99 to 2.26 Lakhs 
Books and stationery  500 to 1,000  40,600 to 81,300 
Food  2,500  2 Lakhs 
Clothes  500  40,600 
Public Transport  500 to 1,200  40,600 to 97,600 
Miscellaneous  2,000  1.63 Lakhs 

MS in UI/UX Design in the USA- Salary 

Once you finish your MS in UI/UX Design in the USA, you can get a high-paying job in the USA. Students can earn up to USD 57,200 to USD 135,250 in Indian rupees, INR 46.7 Lakhs to INR 1.1 Crore. Below are the job roles with their salaries mentioned: 

 

Job Title  Average Salary (USD)  Average Salary (INR) 
Graphic Designer  51,840  43 lakhs 
Creative Director  96,532  80 lakhs 
Art Director  79,697  66 lakhs 
Visual Designer  84,889  70 lakhs 
UX Designer  69,281  57 lakhs 
User Experience Researcher  102,318  85 lakhs 
Instructional Designer  66,537  55 lakhs 
Technical Project Manager  110,918  92 lakhs 
Product Design Engineer  75,849  63 lakhs 
Landscape Designer  60,792  50 lakhs 

Top Recruiters in the USA 

Below is the list of top recruiters in the USA:  

  • SimpliSafe 
  • Meta 
  • Bedrock Data 
  • Thyssenkrupp Materials NA Inc 
  • TPR Education LLC 
  • ResMan 
  • PRI 
  • Ansira 
  • Gearbox Software 
  • Course Hero 

MS in UI/UX Design in the USA Without a GRE 

On an average 290 GRE score is required to get admission in the universities, but some universities might provide a GRE waver for the students.  Below are many universities which offer MS in UI/UX Design in the USA Without a GRE:  

UI/UX universities in the USA without a GRE  MS in UI/UX in the USA without a GRE 
Northeastern University, Boston  MFA in Experience Design 
Northeastern University, Boston  MFA in Information Design and Visualization 
Northeastern University, Boston  MS in Experience Design 
University of Delaware  MA in Interaction Design 
Temple University  MFA in Graphic and Interactive Design 
Thomas Jefferson University (Philadelphia University)  MS in User Experience & Interaction Design 

Study with Shuraa Education  

We hope this blog on pursuing an MS in UI/UX Design in the USA was informative, covering key aspects like documentation, steps, and potential salary after graduation. If you still have questions or need further clarification, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Shuraa Overseas Education experts. We’re here to assist you every step of the way.

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