Packaging is an unusual academic field. While thousands of colleges offer degrees in engineering, business, design and supply chain management, relatively few universities offer a degree specifically focused on packaging.
Even among those schools, the terminology varies. Students may encounter programs in packaging science, packaging engineering, packaging systems and design, packaging engineering technology, or simply packaging. The emphasis can also differ considerably. Some programs lean heavily toward materials science and engineering, while others combine engineering with design, manufacturing, business, sustainability and supply chain management.
This guide identifies U.S. colleges and universities offering substantial academic programs specifically focused on packaging.
How the Schools Were Selected
This is not a ranking of packaging schools.
Packaging Revolution reviewed current information published by universities and colleges offering undergraduate or graduate education in which packaging is a primary field of study. The list focuses on dedicated packaging degrees and degree concentrations rather than general engineering, automation, robotics or manufacturing programs that may include some exposure to packaging.
Programs are presented alphabetically. Degree names and program structures vary, so prospective students should review the current curriculum and admissions information provided by each institution.
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Program: Industrial Technology and Packaging
Undergraduate: BS in Industrial Technology and Packaging, Packaging Concentration
Also available: Packaging Minor
Program website: Cal Poly Industrial Technology and Packaging
Cal Poly’s packaging offering combines business, design, science and technology. Students pursuing the Packaging concentration within the BS in Industrial Technology and Packaging study subjects including packaging materials, structural packaging design, fiber-based packaging, healthcare packaging, distribution packaging dynamics, packaging machinery, sustainability and packaging development.
The program sits within Cal Poly’s Orfalea College of Business, giving it a somewhat different orientation from packaging programs located within engineering or science colleges. Supply chain management, manufacturing, product development and business are integrated into the curriculum.
Clemson University
Program: Packaging Science
Undergraduate: BS in Packaging Science
Graduate: MS in Packaging Science; packaging-related study within the PhD in Food, Nutrition and Packaging Sciences
Program website: Clemson Packaging Science
Clemson is one of the better-established dedicated packaging science programs in the United States. The undergraduate curriculum starts with a foundation in science and mathematics before moving into packaging materials, polymers, package design, distribution and other specialized areas.
The program places considerable emphasis on hands-on learning, with packaging science drawing from chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, graphics and business. Students can pursue emphasis areas involving distribution and transportation, materials, food and healthcare packaging, and package design and graphics.
Clemson also offers an MS in Packaging Science. Graduate research can encompass areas such as distribution packaging, packaging materials, food and healthcare packaging, polymers and biopolymers.
Indiana State University
Program: Packaging Engineering Technology
Undergraduate: BS in Packaging Engineering Technology
Program website: Indiana State Packaging Engineering Technology
Indiana State’s program reflects the applied side of packaging engineering. Students study packaging materials, testing, design and production while also developing skills in operations, quality, project management, continuous improvement and sustainability.
The BS is available both on campus and online. Indiana State also incorporates practical industry experience through co-op or internship opportunities.
This is a good example of why packaging programs should not all be placed under the label “Packaging Science.” Indiana State describes its program specifically as Packaging Engineering Technology, reflecting its applied technical orientation.
Michigan State University
Program: Packaging
Undergraduate: BS in Packaging
Graduate: MS and PhD in Packaging
Program website: Michigan State University School of Packaging
Michigan State occupies an important place in packaging education. MSU says it became the first higher education institution to offer a specialized bachelor’s degree in packaging in 1952 and established the first dedicated School of Packaging.
The undergraduate program combines physics, chemistry, mathematics and materials science with packaging-specific courses and business education. Students can explore subjects including materials, packaging processes and systems, food packaging, medical packaging, distribution, robotics, hazardous materials and packaging sustainability.
Michigan State also has one of the most extensive graduate offerings in the field, including MS and PhD programs in Packaging. Master’s study is available through thesis and non-thesis routes, including online options.
Rochester Institute of Technology
Program: Packaging Science
Undergraduate: BS in Packaging Science
Graduate: MS in Packaging Science
Program website: RIT Packaging Science
Rochester Institute of Technology, commonly known as RIT, was missing from the previous version of this Packaging Revolution guide and clearly belongs in an updated directory.
RIT’s Packaging Science BS combines engineering, materials science, design and business. Students work with packaging materials and learn about package development, distribution, sustainability, food and medical packaging, regulatory requirements and supply chain considerations.
Hands-on education is a major part of the program. Laboratory work is integrated throughout the curriculum, and undergraduate packaging students complete cooperative education experience with industry.
RIT also offers an MS in Packaging Science, with advanced work in areas such as packaging dynamics, sustainable packaging, packaging development and distribution systems.
Rutgers University
Program: Packaging Engineering
Undergraduate: Packaging Engineering concentration within Applied Sciences in Engineering
Graduate: MS in Packaging Engineering
Also available: Undergraduate and graduate certificates
Program website: Rutgers Packaging Engineering
Rutgers provides one of the clearest examples of a packaging engineering approach. The program is housed within the university’s School of Engineering and draws from mechanical, materials, industrial and chemical engineering.
Undergraduate students can pursue Packaging Engineering as a concentration within the Applied Sciences in Engineering major. Coursework covers areas such as packaging materials, manufacturing, evaluation methods, sustainability, printing, machinery and distribution packaging.
Rutgers also offers an MS in Packaging Engineering and packaging certificates for students and professionals seeking specialized packaging education without completing another full degree.
San José State University
Program: Packaging
Undergraduate: BS in Packaging
Graduate: MS in Packaging
Program website: San José State Packaging
San José State University offers a dedicated BS in Packaging combining engineering, science, materials, design and business.
Students receive hands-on experience designing, fabricating and testing packages and study materials including paper, plastics, glass and metals. Other areas include structural packaging design, distribution testing, packaging machinery, logistics, food packaging, hazardous materials and medical packaging.
Its Silicon Valley location also gives the program an interesting connection to technology, electronics and other industries where product protection and distribution packaging can be particularly challenging.
San José State also offers an MS in Packaging and an accelerated pathway allowing qualified students to progress from the BS into graduate study.
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Program: Packaging
Undergraduate: BS in Packaging
Program website: UW-Stout BS in Packaging
UW-Stout offers a dedicated Bachelor of Science in Packaging with a distinctly applied, polytechnic approach.
The curriculum brings together engineering, design and business while providing specialized study in packaging materials, package development, printing, manufacturing, quality, machinery and supply chain applications.
Students have access to dedicated packaging laboratories covering areas such as distribution testing, materials, machinery, computer-aided packaging work and prototyping. Packaging-related cooperative education and internship experience is also an important component of the program.
The program allows students to develop additional expertise in areas including package design and development, packaging machinery, plastics, printing, food technology, quality, sales and supply chain.
Virginia Tech
Program: Packaging Systems and Design
Undergraduate: BS in Packaging Systems and Design
Program website: Virginia Tech Packaging Systems and Design
Virginia Tech’s Packaging Systems and Design program combines packaging materials, technology, design, business and engineering.
Students study packaging materials and technologies along with CAD, polymers, paper packaging, food and healthcare packaging, production, distribution systems and package design for global supply chains.
Virginia Tech also has a particularly strong connection to transport packaging and unit load research through its Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design. That makes the program especially relevant to students interested in distribution packaging, pallets, unit loads and the interaction between packaging and material handling systems.
Fashion Institute of Technology
Program: Packaging Design
Undergraduate: BFA in Packaging Design
Program website: FIT Packaging Design
FIT deserves inclusion in a packaging education directory, but its program is quite different from the science and engineering programs above.
The New York school offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Packaging Design focused heavily on branding, design strategy, structural design, consumer behavior, sustainability, digital design and retail and e-commerce applications.
Students entering directly from high school do not move immediately into the Packaging Design BFA. FIT directs those students first through its Communication Design associate degree before they apply to the two-year Packaging Design BFA.
For students interested primarily in the visual, brand and consumer-facing dimensions of packaging rather than packaging engineering, FIT represents a specialized alternative.
Packaging Science or Packaging Engineering?
The terminology can be confusing, particularly because graduates from packaging science programs frequently work under the job title packaging engineer.
In practice, packaging is highly interdisciplinary. Developing a package can involve materials science, structural engineering, manufacturing, machinery, transportation, product protection, food science, graphic design, sustainability, regulatory requirements, marketing and supply chain management. The name on the degree therefore tells only part of the story.
A student comparing programs should look beyond whether a school uses the term science, engineering, technology or design. The more useful questions involve what students actually study, the laboratory and testing facilities available, opportunities for internships or cooperative education, industry involvement, areas of faculty expertise and the types of packaging careers graduates enter.
For students interested specifically in transport packaging, reusable packaging or unit load design, courses and research involving distribution dynamics, package testing, logistics, pallets and material handling may be particularly relevant.
Did We Miss a Packaging Program?
Packaging education continues to evolve, and programs can be introduced, renamed or reorganized. If your college or university offers a dedicated packaging degree or substantial packaging concentration that should be included in this guide, please contact Packaging Revolution with the program details.
Last reviewed: September 2026.
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