UX Design Degree Programs in Columbus, OH (2026)

Quick answer: The Columbus metro employs about 620 web and digital interface designers (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing is set at the state level, through target employers on the portfolio work they expect.

Compare ux design programs enrolling now:

Licensing

Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. UX design is not licensed and has no required certification. The case-study portfolio is the credential employers screen on, and the degree’s value is research method, critique and the portfolio built under supervision.

See the Ohio licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with target employers on the portfolio work they expect.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 6 schools within 128 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 6 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

Cincinnati, OH 100.6 miles away BOC Score 64.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 73.2% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 52
  • Annual completions: 4136
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $72,188 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Kent State University at Kent

Kent, OH 117.7 miles away BOC Score 53.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Programs offered: 35
  • Annual completions: 1010
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $56,839 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Heidelberg University

Tiffin, OH 78.6 miles away BOC Score 47.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Programs offered: 1
  • Annual completions: 18
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $52,647 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Columbus College of Art & Design

Columbus, OH 1.4 miles away BOC Score 42.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 58.5% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 6
  • Annual completions: 79
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $41,994 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Cleveland Institute of Art

Cleveland, OH 127.8 miles away BOC Score 40.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 62.3% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 6
  • Annual completions: 40
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $41,829 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Franklin University

Columbus, OH 1.9 miles away BOC Score 35.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 20.8% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 18
  • Annual completions: 911
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $68,805 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

What Web and Digital Interface Designers Earn in Columbus

Web and Digital Interface Designers in the Columbus area earn a median $96,010 per year, below the national median of $104,000 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

UX Design Pay in Columbus, OH

MetricColumbus metroOhioNational
Median annual wage$96,010$83,360$104,000
10th percentile$56,490$48,940$53,750
25th percentile$71,170$60,490$73,290
75th percentile$133,940$125,600$158,820
90th percentile$167,010$151,090$201,550
Employment6202,520113,330
Location quotient0.77-1.00

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Columbus, OH metropolitan statistical area.

What the Numbers Say About This Market

The Columbus median of $96,010 is below the national median of $104,000, and above the Ohio statewide median of $83,360 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

The metro’s location quotient of 0.77 means web and digital interface designers are less concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.

UX employment concentrates in technology and product hubs, and a substantial share of roles are remote-eligible.

Other Ohio Metro Areas

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Cincinnati$82,820570
Cleveland$86,340360
Akron$77,990110

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.


Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do web and digital interface designers make in Columbus?

The median annual wage for web and digital interface designers in the Columbus, OH metro area is $96,010, below the national median of $104,000 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

How many web and digital interface designers work in the Columbus area?

The Columbus, OH metro area employs about 620 web and digital interface designers (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Do web and digital interface designers in Columbus need a license?

Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. UX design is not licensed and has no required certification. The case-study portfolio is the credential employers screen on, and the degree's value is research method, critique and the portfolio built under supervision. Confirm current requirements with target employers on the portfolio work they expect.

Can I study ux design online from Columbus?

The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies target employers on the portfolio work they expect.

Is Columbus a better market than the rest of Ohio?

The Columbus metro median is $96,010 against a statewide median of $83,360 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Web and Digital Interface Designers (SOC 15-1255), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.