Master of Science in User Experience

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Roles in One of America’s Hottest Fields

UX jobs are part of the fastest-growing career fields in the United States1 for reasons that should come as little surprise. Quality user experience (UX) can lead to an increase in site conversions of up to 400 percent,2 which can greatly impact brand loyalty and sales, and a majority (57 percent) of web users say they won’t recommend a business with a poor mobile experience.3 For those watching the bottom line, these statistics make UX a critical contributor to profitability.

But perhaps of greater interest to prospective UX professionals is this: Not only is there rising demand for UX professionals, it is also a field in which people find great personal satisfaction. In a national survey of UX professionals, 81 percent of respondents rated their current career satisfaction at a five or higher on a scale of one to seven. These individuals reported feeling highly valued, said their work was challenging and engaging, and felt their work was beneficial to humanity.4

Take advantage of the robust market for exciting and fulfilling UX jobs, and build the skills you may need to accelerate your UX career. It all starts here.

Popular Career Paths in UX

Within the realm of UX, there are numerous unique roles to consider. Think you’re looking only for the title “UX Professional?” Think again. While this recognizable role is a great fit for graduates of the online MS in UX, others like it are equally attainable and often come with attractive salaries.

User Experience Designer7

  • Median salary: $98,800
  • Top salary: $155,000

User Experience Researcher8

  • Median salary: $106,800
  • Top salary: $175,500

User Interface Designer

  • Median salary: $104,800
  • Top salary: $167,500
During my 16 months in the program, I discovered that my professors were all practitioners, and the challenges that we were being given in class were practical, not theoretical. When I graduated, I walked out of Kent State with real-world experience, ready to hit the ground running from the day I got my degree.
Alesha Arp, MS ’16

Find Your UX Career Path

Because UX represents a diverse set of skills and focus areas, there are several unique career paths to consider. In addition to the three mentioned, here are even more roles you could consider after earning your online MS in UX.

Average annual salaries:

$94,700
Usability Analyst10
$126,600
Information Architect11
$81,500
Interactive Designer12
$86,000
Visual Designer13
Where Will Your Career Take You?

10 U.S. Cities for UX Careers14

  • New York
  • San Francisco
  • Atlanta
  • Chicago
  • San Jose, California
  • Seattle
  • Boston
  • Los Angeles
  • Charlotte, North Carolina
  • Washington, D.C.

Top Industries for Kent UX Graduates14

  • Consulting
  • Educational services
  • Government agencies
  • Healthcare
  • Marketing/advertising
  • Media/entertainment
  • Technology
Latest Articles
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Kent Online Degrees Blog
The Value of a Master’s Degree in UX Design
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Millions of people apply for a master’s degree program in the hopes of getting advanced education to improve their careers. In some career fields, a master’s degree is required for certain positions. In others, it’s good to have but not essential.
October 14, 2021
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Kent Online Degrees Blog
What Are the Best UX Courses?
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When people interact with computers they do so through interfaces. These interfaces are designed by humans, and in the optimal situation, they are user-friendly and easy to navigate. As more of us use computers and machines daily for everything from work to shopping and social interactions, user experience (UX) is more critical than ever before.
October 11, 2021
Best Master's Degrees in UI:UX Design
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Best Master’s Degrees in UI/UX Design 2021
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It used to be that computer programmers learned how to design a robust user experience on the fly, sometimes with minimum computer science training. Those days are long gone. Roles for self-taught Renaissance experts have largely given way to a number of specialized careers in programming and web design. One such career is the lucrative, in-demand field of user experience (UX) design.
October 5, 2021
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Sources

1. Retrieved on November 10, 2020 from onwardsearch.com/career-center/ux-careers-guide/
2. Retrieved on November 10, 2020 from forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2017/03/23/the-bottom-line-why-good-ux-design-means-better-business/#37d941952396
3. Retrieved on November 10, 2020 from socpub.com/articles/the-5-mobile-marketing-mistakes-infographic-14849
4. Retrieved on November 10, 2020 from media.nngroup.com/media/reports/free/User_Experience_Careers.pdf
5. Retrieved on November 10, 2020 from glassdoor.com/List/Best-Jobs-in-America-LST_KQ0,20.htm
6. Based on a limited sample of self-reported data from Kent State alumni from graduating cohorts between 2016-2020.
7. Retrieved on November 10, 2020 from ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/UX-Designer-Salary
8. Retrieved on November 10, 2020 from ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/UX-Researcher-Salary
9. Retrieved on November 10, 2020 from ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/User-Interface-Design-Salary
10. Retrieved on November 10, 2020 from ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Usability-Analyst-Salary
11. Retrieved on November 10, 2020 from ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Information-Architect-Salary
12. Retrieved on November 10, 2020 from ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Interactive-Designer-Salary
13. Retrieved on November 10, 2020 from ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Visual-Designer-Salary
14. Information reflects self-reported data gathered from Kent State University students enrolled in the online Master of Science in User Experience Design from fall 2014 through summer 2018.