Best Online UX/UI Master’s Degree Programs, Jobs, and Salaries

Arizona State University is a public, coeducational institution of higher learning. Academia at the institution includes everything from agriculture and engineering to business and education. The school also has colleges of fine arts, architecture, environmental design, liberal arts, sciences, and law.

Master of Science in User Experience

This online graduate program in user experience (UX) covers UX research, content production, communication, and evaluation of all user interfaces, components, and products. The application requirements for this graduate program include a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 hours of a bachelor's degree program.

Alternatively, candidates must have an overall GPA of 3.0 in a relevant master's degree. All applicants must submit a graduate application, an attached transcript, and an indication of relevant design experience, if they have it. It's encouraged to submit a work sample, design portfolio, writing sample, prototype, and research report.

Master of Science in User Experience Overview

• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Tuition: $543-$1,343/credit
• Required Credits: 30 credits
• Program Length: 3 semesters at 9-10 credits per semester
• Learning Format: Online
• NCES School Graduation Rate: 24%

Master of Science in User Experience Admission Requirements

• GPA: 3.0
• Standardized Tests: GRE
• Application Fee: $70
• Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree
• Other Requirements: Statement of purpose

Applying to Arizona State University

1. Submit the graduate admission application
2. Pay the application fee
3. Submit your official transcripts
4. Submit a sample of work (recommended)
5. Submit a statement of purpose

Brandeis University is a Massachusetts-based private research university founded in 1948 as a co-educational, non-sectarian institution. The Jewish community funded the school on the site of the former Middlesex University. Louis Brandeis, the nation's first Jewish supreme court justice, inspired the school's name.

Master of Science in User-Centered Design

The Master of Science in User-Centered Design program helps students graduate with a portfolio that expresses their skills and empowers them to move forward in any organization. It'll also help them launch a new career path in digital products improvement, project management, and application development.

You'll need 30 credit hours to graduate in the electives and core courses. The topics take you deeper into your areas of interest, including web development, project management, and the design of emerging technologies.

Master of Science in User-Centered Design Overview

• Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
• Tuition: $3,660/3 credits (part-time); $2,928/3 credits (full-time)
• Required Credits: 30 credits
• Program Length: 3 semesters at 9-10 credits per semester
• Learning Format: Online
• NCES School Graduation Rate: 89%

Master of Science in User-Centered Design Admission Requirements

• GPA: 3.0
• Standardized Tests: None
• Application Fee: $75
• Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree
• Other Requirements: Letter of recommendation

Applying to Brandeis University

1. Submit your undergraduate transcript
2. Send your resume
3. Attach your statement of goals
4. Attach your letter of recommendation
5. Pay the application fee

DePaul University in Chicago is a private Catholic research university. Vincentians founded the university in 1898, naming it as a tribute to Saint Vincent de Paul, a 17-century French priest. DePaul follows in the footsteps of its founders and places special emphasis on recruiting students from underprivileged backgrounds.

Master of Science in Human-Computer Interaction

DePaul University’s Master of Science in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) teaches students to create user-friendly programs. This two-year degree integrates graphic design and computer science. DePaul's HCI program is one of the top UX master’s programs and teaches students skills that will be in high demand in today’s tech-centered job market. Graduate students need a minimum of 52 credits to complete the program.

Master of Science in Human-Computer Interaction Overview

• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Tuition: $900/credit
• Required Credits: 52 credits
• Program Length: 4 semesters at 13 credits per semester
• Learning Format: Online
• NCES School Graduation Rate: 71%

Master of Science in Human-Computer Interaction

• GPA: 2.5
• Standardized Tests: Not required
• Application Fee: $25
• Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree
• Other Requirements: None

Applying to Depaul University

1. Visit the school's portal
2. Carefully review prerequisites for admission
3. Submit the application
4. Pay the application fee
5. Access your account to see your admission status

Drexel University is a private research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Anthony J. Drexel founded the school in 1981. It was originally known as Drexel Institute of Art, Science, and Industry, but in 1936, it was renamed Drexel Institute of Technology before taking its current name in 1970.

Master of Science in Information Human-Computer Interaction & User Experience

Drexel’s HCI graduate major program is one of the best online UX/UI design master's degrees in the US. It prepares students to design next-generation interfaces collaboratively. Graduates can apply for a variety of jobs in interface design, user experience research, or software development. The courses can be taken online and are open to anyone who wants to get into the UX and HCI world. This degree does not require a strong technical background.

Master of Science in Information Human-Computer Interaction & User Experience Overview

• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• Tuition: $1,355/credit
• Required Credits: 45 credits
• Program Length: 3 semesters at 10 credits
• Learning Format: Online
• NCES School Graduation Rate: 71%

Master of Science in Information Human-Computer Interaction & User Experience Admission Requirements

• GPA: 3.0
• Standardized Tests: None
• Application Fee: $50
• Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree
• Other Requirements: Recommendation letter, official transcripts, statement of purpose, resume

Applying to Drexel University

1. Fill out the application
2. Attach official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
3. Attach one or two letters of recommendation
4. Attach an essay/statement of purpose
5. Submit the application and pay the fee

Kent State University began in 1910 to train teachers. Classes started in 1912 in temporary buildings in Kent, with the first campus buildings opening the following year. Since then, the institution has grown to approximately 1,000 acres with 119 buildings on the Kent campus.

Master of Science in User Experience Design

This course requires the completion of 21 credit hours of core courses, 12 credit hours of elective courses, and one capstone project. You can create your portfolio while gaining practical skills in presentation and theory to meet your career goals. This will prepare you to become a UX designer, leader, and innovator.

Master of Science in User Experience Design Overview

• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
• Tuition: $725/credit (in-state); $735/credit (out-of-state)
• Required Credits: 36 credits
• Program Length: 4 semesters at 9 credits per semester
• Learning Format: Online
• NCES School Graduation Rate: 65%

Master of Science in User Experience Design Admission Requirements

• GPA: 3.0
• Standardized Tests: Not required
• Application Fee: $45
• Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree
• Other Requirements: Goal statement, 3 letters of recommendation, official transcripts, goal statement, resume

Applying to Kent State University

1. Start your application
2. Attach evidence of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
3. Attach letters of recommendation from professors and/or employers
4. Pay the application fee
5. Submit your application

Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) is a member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD), a group of 36 top US art schools. The college offers pre-college, post-baccalaureate, and continuing studies. It also offers master of fine arts and bachelor of fine arts programs.

Master of Professional Studies in UX Design

This online program focuses on the intersection of art and technology. It teaches graduate students project management, the fundamental principles of interface design, usability, and prototyping. Industries ranging from gaming to healthcare, education, and defense need graduates with these skills. You can complete this graduate degree as a full-time student in as little as 15 months.

Master of Professional Studies in UX Design Overview

• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• Tuition: $9,375/semester
• Required Credits: 30 credits
• Program Length: 4 terms at 6-8 credits per term
• Learning Format: Online
• NCES School Graduation Rate: 73%

Master of Professional Studies in UX Design Admission Requirements

• GPA: 3.0
• Standardized Tests: Not required
• Application Fee: $75
• Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree
• Other Requirements: Transcripts, resume, statement of purpose, portfolio with narrative

Applying to Maryland Institute College of Art

1. Submit the graduate application form via SlideRoom
2. Upload required documents
3. Attach your portfolio
4. Pay the application fee

Rutgers University is a public land-grant university with four campuses located in New Jersey. It was initially known as Queen's College and was affiliated with the Dutch Reformed Church. It is the eighth-oldest college in America, the second-oldest college in New Jersey college, and one of nine US colonial universities chartered before the American Revolution.

Master of Business and Science User Experience Design

Rutgers University has one of the best UX design master's degree programs in the country. This program gives students the courage to create innovative user interfaces and programs. Students are encouraged to choose their own curriculum. Internship students gain hands-on experience in real tech companies throughout the summer.

Master of Business and Science User Experience Design Overview

• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• Tuition:  $923/credit
• Required Credits: 43 credits
• Program Length: 4 semesters at 10-12 credits per semester
• Learning Format: Online
• NCES School Graduation Rate: 84%

Master of Business and Science User Experience Design Admission Requirements

• GPA: 3.0
• Standardized Tests: Not required
• Application Fee: $70
• Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree
• Other Requirements: Attend 12 colloquium events, official transcripts, letters of recommendation, personal statement

Applying to Rutgers University

1. Create an account in the application portal
2. Attach official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
3. Attach one or two letters of recommendation
4. Attach an essay or statement of purpose
5. Pay the application fee

The first class at The Kansas State University (KU) consisted of 55 students in 1865. Today, the school has a total enrollment of over 28,000 students over five campuses. KU is Kansas state’s flagship university and outstanding research institution.

Master of Arts in Design with Concentration in Interaction & User Experience Design

Students pursuing the Master of Arts in Interaction Design and User Experience will have a thorough understanding of design principles, methods, and applications. It provides students with the necessary professional knowledge, skills, and competencies to succeed as interface designers. This fully accredited institution offers scholarships for qualified students at a low cost.

Master of Arts in Design with Concentration in Interaction & User Experience Design Overview

• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Tuition: $416/credit (in-state); $998/credit (out-of-state)
• Required Credits: 31 credits
• Program Length: 4 semesters at 7-8 credits per semester
• Learning Format: Online
• NCES School Graduation Rate: 63%

Master of Arts in Design with Concentration in Interaction & User Experience Design Admission Requirements

• GPA: 3.0
• Standardized Tests: GRE
• Application Fee: $65
• Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree
• Other Requirements: Transcripts, 3 letters of recommendation, statement of design philosophy, portfolio

Applying to The University of Kansas

1. Fill out the graduate application
2. Pay the application fee
3. Submit the required documents
4. Attach a statement of design philosophy
5. Submit a portfolio of your design work

University of Miami (UM) is a private research university in Coral Gables. Over 17,000 students attend its 12 colleges in nearly 350 academic majors. These include the Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine and the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science on Virginia Key. They both have research sites in southern Miami-Dade County.

Master of Fine Art in Interactive Design

The Master of Fine Arts in Interactive Media prepares students for innovation by exposing them to the business, social, intellectual, and cultural settings of new technologies. The degree requires students to complete at least 45 credit hours at the graduate degree level, with a B grade average or better and no lower than a C. The chair of the curriculum management department must approve any transfer of credit hours or course substitutions.

Master of Fine Art in Interactive Design Overview

• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Tuition: $2,213/credit
• Required Credits: 45 credits
• Program Length: 4 semesters at 9-12 credits per semester
• Learning Format: Online
• NCES School Graduation Rate: 83%

Master of Fine Art in Interactive Design Admission Requirements

• GPA: 3.0
• Standardized Tests: GRE (recommended)
• Application Fee: $60
• Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree
• Other Requirements: 3 letters of recommendation, statement of professional goals, official transcripts, portfolio

Applying to the University of Miami

1. Sign up for an account on CollegeNet
2. Send your official transcripts
3. Send letters of recommendation
4. Submit your portfolio
5. Submit a personal essay.

University of Michigan-Dearborn is one of the state's 14 master's-granting institutions. Its location lies behind Baker College and ahead of Saginaw Valley State University. In addition to a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree options, the university offers six doctoral degree programs.

Master of Science in Human-Centered Design and Engineering

This degree requires the completion of 31 semester hours where you will research, identify, document, and translate the user's requirements and expectations. You create new ideas in implementing and assessing goods or services scientifically. The program teaches late afternoon and evening classes to allow students to obtain the degree part-time. You can complete the curriculum on campus, online, or through both.

Master of Science in Human-Centered Design and Engineering Overview

• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Tuition: $1,225/credit (in-state); $1,432/credit (out-of-state)
• Required Credits: 31 credits
• Program Length: 3 semesters at 10 credits per semester
• Learning Format: Online
• NCES School Graduation Rate: 55%

Master of Science in Human-Centered Design and Engineering Admission Requirements

• GPA: 3.0
• Standardized Tests: GRE, GMAT
• Application Fee: $60
• Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree
• Other Requirements: 2 letters of recommendation, link to design portfolio (encouraged), statement of purpose, resume, transcripts

Applying to University of Michigan - Dearborn

1. Create an account on the school’s online portal
2. Submit all the required documents
3. Provide a link to your digital portfolio
4. Pay the application fee

The UX lead designer coordinates interaction methods for devices with client businesses and user goals. Your focus is on usability and function and marketing, branding, and design. You must understand customers' motivations, behaviors, and needs to help designers discover market opportunities for their project solutions. You are responsible for the user experience.

• Average Salary: $115,267
• Job Outlook: 13% job growth from 2020 to 2030
• Number of Jobs: 199,400
• Highest-Paying States: Virginia, Washington, Rhode Island, Maryland, District of Columbia

Information architects are a hybrid of digital librarians and cognitive psychologists. Information architects organize content and information across a digital product and research how this affects the user experience. They ensure the website or screen is structured to help users reach their goals. Information architects also oversee the site's general navigation, ensuring that the user's trip is coherent.

• Average Salary: $98,148
• Job Outlook: 13% job growth from 2020 to 2030
• Number of Jobs: 199,400
• Highest-Paying States: Virginia, Washington, Rhode Island, Maryland, District of Columbia

UX researchers are experts in the research phase of design. They are experts in human behavior and responsible for gaining deep insights into users' motivations and needs. They use qualitative and quantitative research and employ various techniques. These techniques are rooted in one of three core methodologies, including observation, understanding, and analysis.

• Average Salary: $88,594
• Job Outlook: 13% job growth from 2020 to 2030
• Number of Jobs: 199,400
• Highest-Paying States: Virginia, Washington, Rhode Island, Maryland, District of Columbia

An interactive designer uses data from users, research, and input from colleagues to create an interactive concept that provides a seamless, fluid, engaging experience for all users. This career field might include creating prototypes for an application or service and working with visual designers to develop full design solutions.

• Average Salary: $78,104
• Job Outlook: 13% job growth from 2020 to 2030
• Number of Jobs: 199,400
• Highest-Paying States: Virginia, Washington, Rhode Island, Maryland, District of Columbia

Professionals in this industry employ usability principles and user research to find design flaws.  This job contributes to the achievement of usability objectives by setting project goals, measuring outcomes, and assessing the success of specific projects. The responsibilities of this position include investigating and resolving user experience issues through testing, improving, and disseminating actionable findings that will improve customer or user experiences.

• Average Salary: $70,496
• Job Outlook: 13% job growth from 2020 to 2030
• Number of Jobs: 199,400
• Highest-Paying States: Virginia, Washington, Rhode Island, Maryland, District of Columbia