UX Design Degree in Boston, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
UX Design degree analysis for Boston, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$69K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$151K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.6 yrs
in Boston
Cost of Living
137
index (100 = avg)
UX Design in Boston, MA Overview
Boston is one of Massachusetts's top college towns, with 24 institutions and a student population of 40,388. Public tuition averages $14,167/year here — near the national average for public universities. UX Design has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for User Research and Wireframing skills. The adjusted starting salary in Boston is approximately $68,500, growing to $150,700 by mid-career.
Category
Arts & Design
Local Colleges
24
Public Tuition
$14,167/yr
Private Tuition
$60,730/yr
Room & Board
$14,423/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,458/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
56%
UX Design Salary in Boston (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Boston's cost of living index of 137 (national average = 100).
Note: National average UX Design salary: $50,000 starting, $110,000 mid-career, $135,000 senior level.Boston adjustment factor: 1.37x based on the local cost of living index.
UX Design ROI Calculator for Boston
Estimate your return on investment for a UX Design degree using local Boston tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,167 | Private avg: $60,730
Boston avg aid: $10,458/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$114,360
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$20,550
vs HS diploma in Boston
ROI Payback Period
5.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Boston
$1,118,640
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,233,000) minus total education cost ($114,360)
Student Loan Payoff for UX Design in Boston
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Boston for UX Design
Boston University
private
$62,360/yr
$249,440 total
Northeastern University
private
$59,100/yr
$236,400 total
University of Massachusetts Boston
public
$14,167/yr
$56,668 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bunker Hill Community College
$5,760/yr
Roxbury Community College
$5,280/yr
Top Employers for UX Design in Boston
Boston offers opportunities in Design agencies, Studios, Tech companies for UX Design graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Boston Hiring Sectors for Arts & Design
Design agencies
Studios
Tech companies
Advertising firms
Media companies
Common UX Design Job Titles
UX Design in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Worcester, MA
$59K starting · COL 117
11 colleges
Springfield, MA
$67K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Cambridge, MA
$67K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Lowell, MA
$56K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Brockton, MA
$54K starting · COL 108.5
5 colleges
Quincy, MA
$64K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
New Bedford, MA
$51K starting · COL 102.5
4 colleges
Lynn, MA
$59K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Other Arts & Design Majors in Boston
Architecture
$79K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Animation & Game Design
$69K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Industrial Design
$69K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Graphic Design
$66K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Interior Design
$69K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Fashion Design
$69K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Film & Media Studies
$69K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Fine Arts
$69K starting · 9 yr ROI
UX Design Degree in Boston — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare UX Design ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Boston.