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Product development designer education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a product development designer. Product development designers usually study graphic design, mechanical engineering, or business. 70% of product development designers hold a bachelor's degree, and 17% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 798 real product development designer resumes to see exactly what product development designer education sections show.
The most common colleges for product development designers are the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Fashion Institute of Technology.
There are also many online product development designer courses to help get the education required to be a product development designer.
What education do you need to become a product development designer?
What degree do you need to be a product development designer?
- Bachelor's, 70%
- Associate, 17%
- Master's, 9%
- High School Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What should I major in to become a product development designer?
- Graphic Design, 33%
- Business, 8%
- Fine Arts, 7%
- Other Majors, 42%
Most common colleges for product development designers
| Product development designer common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Fashion Institute of Technology | 17.54% |
| Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising-San Francisco | 7.02% |
| Academy of Art University | 6.14% |
| Colorado State University | 6.14% |
| University of North Texas | 5.26% |
Best majors for product development designers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Graphic Design | 32.8% |
| 2 | Mechanical Engineering | 10.0% |
| 3 | Business | 7.8% |
| 4 | Fine Arts | 7.4% |
| 5 | Drafting And Design | 6.0% |
Best colleges for product development designers
The best colleges for product development designers are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Harvard University.
A product development designer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for product development designers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become product development designers.
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
2. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
3. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
4. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
5. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
6. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
7. Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$52,930
Enrollment
5,030
8. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,465
Enrollment
6,483
9. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
In-state tuition
$53,399
Enrollment
7,356
10. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
20 best online courses for product development designers
Advertising disclosure
1. Visual Design (Part Time)
Gain the vocabulary and tools to tackle diverse design challenges on the job. Kickstart your portfolio and create beautiful, responsive designs for the web. This course is offered in person and live online, in a remote classroom setting...
2. Engineering and Product Design Processes
Welcome to “Engineering and Product Design Processes!” In this short course, you will learn how engineering design processes and product design processes are carried out. After the course, you will be familiar with the steps in both design processes. You will also be familiar with the main goal of each design process, as well as their similarities and differences...
3. Product Ideation, Design, and Management
This Specialization is designed for aspiring and active product leaders seeking to pursue careers in product management, product design, and related roles. Through five practical courses, you will learn the fundamentals for designing and managing products. Upon completion, you will have created your own personal toolbox of knowledge and techniques for approaching and solving real-world problems that product leaders face...
4. Mechanical design and Product development process
Learn the basic ideas and concepts behind developing mechanical products related to mechanical engineering...
5. Product Design Management for Agile Practitioners
Application of product design management principles, concepts, tools and techniques in agile product management...
6. Master Digital Product Design: UX Research & UI Design
A complete design education for product designers: Research the user experience, then design a great user interface...
7. Ultimate Guide to Product Design: Design Thinking Approach
Uncover the Secrets of Successful Products for Outstanding User Experience. Design unique product that your users love!...
8. Automotive product design using CATIA V5
Automotive domain design using CATIA, interior and exterior trims on CATIA, Plastic product design in Automotive sector...
9. Product Management Crash Course; IT Product Management
Product Management Essentials & Product Management Fundamentals to kick-start your career in Product Management...
10. Product Management Marketing: Dekker's Product Marketing MBA
Be a Product Marketing Manager - Product Management : Product Manager MBA : Product to Market : Product Owner Launch GTM...
11. Introduction to Automotive Product Design & development
Learn about the process, milestones and activities from idea to complete design of cars for Automotive engineers...
12. Learning SOLIDWORKS: For Students, Engineers, and Designers
For Basic and Intermediate Users...
13. Product Development & Systems Engineering
The complete Product Development & Systems Engineering course! Earn 25 contact hours AND prepare to take the INCOSE Exam...
14. UX Fundamentals: Practical Usability for Product Design
Avoid common mistakes in product design by learning usability principles and analysing tens of real-life examples...
15. Product Management 101
Learn to become a more strategic product manager - and have a greater impact on your company and your products...
16. Build Persuasive Products
Learn how to apply psychology to design engaging online user experiences that make people take action...
17. Improving software development productivity
Improving software development productivity. Practical techniques...
18. Great Product Manager: Product Management by a Big Tech's PM
Become a Great Product Manager! Land your dream job with Big Tech's Senior Product Manager...
19. Basics of Sheet metal design for Mechanical design engineers
Learn Sheet metal design, processes and practical design considerations along with Design projects...
20. Product Management A-Z: Excel as a PM & Build great Products
Product Management course (with Live Case Exercises & inputs from PMs @Top Tech cos.)- Build n Grow products & Get Hired...
Top 10 most affordable universities for product development designers
The most affordable schools for product development designers are California State University - Long Beach, suny farmingdale, and university of south florida.
If the best universities for product development designers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for product development designers.
1. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
2. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
3. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
4. California State University - Northridge
Northridge, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,893
Cost of attendance
18,870
5. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pomona, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,353
Cost of attendance
21,302
6. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Cost of attendance
22,430
7. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
8. San Jose State University
San Jose, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,796
Cost of attendance
24,514
9. Queens College of the City University of New York
Queens, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,338
Cost of attendance
14,281
10. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Cost of attendance
25,228
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for product development designers
The hardest universities for product development designers to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Harvard University.
Some great schools for product development designers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for product development designers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
4. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
5. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
6. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
7. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
8. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,471
9. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
10. Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,380
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for product development designers
The easiest schools for product development designers to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, university of the incarnate word, and lim college.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a product development designer without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for product development designers.
1. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
2. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
3. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,061
4. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
5. Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,111
6. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,026
7. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
99%
SAT average
1,008
8. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
9. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
10. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
Average product development designer salary by education level
| Product development designer education level | Product development designer salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $65,972 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $60,597 |
| Doctorate Degree | $72,497 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $55,084 |
Product development designer education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025