Step-by-Step Plan for Becoming a UX Designer
Introduction
Like many other occupations, there isn’t currently a college degree that covers everything needed to become a UX designer.
The closest you’ll get is Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Information Architecture (IA), and Interactive Design (ID)—but none of them are prerequisites to getting a job as a UX designer.
This is a newer career path that lends itself well to boot camp style education programs, where the curriculum is highly tailored to developing the expertise and skills needed for a career in UX design.
No matter what route you choose, you will need to build out your portfolio. If you go the boot camp route, you should take on projects outside of the program to differentiate yourself and build more experience.
Financial Recommendation
Keep student loan debt below $77,785. This will ensure your student loan debt-to-starting salary ratio is below 1.25x.
Assuming a 6.8% interest rate and 10-year loan repayment, your maximum monthly payment would be $895 or 17% of a starting salary of $62,228.