by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1,084 U.S. colleges awarded 39,906 degrees and certificates in Design & Applied Arts. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 53% of graduates. College Factual ranks 661 schools in its 2027 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $32,258 one year after completing, rising to $50,151 after four years.
A degree in Design and Applied Arts allows students to design everything from living rooms, clothing, and comic books to product packages, billboards, and logos. You will learn the skills to use computer-aided design, drawing, and other techniques to create unique images and products.
Design and Applied Arts is a wide field that covers many different topics. Students typically choose to specialize in a specific area of design. Some concentrations available are Design and Visual Communications, Commercial and Advertising Art, Industrial and Product Design, Commercial Photography, Fashion Design, Interior Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, and Game and Interactive Media Design.
Students will take a variety of classes specific to their chosen concentration. However, all Design and Applied Arts students can expect to take graphic design, art history, drawing, illustration, typography, and other art related courses.
A degree in Design & Applied Arts involves the study of Design And Applied Arts.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, design & applied arts is a widely-pursued major, with 39,906 degrees awarded annually. 1,084 colleges award design & applied arts degrees, an average of 37 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,424.
By level, the 39,906 awards include 2,994 certificates, 8,410 associate degrees, 21,022 bachelor’s degrees, 7,245 master’s degrees and 21 doctorates.
Women earned 69% of design & applied arts degrees and certificates in the latest year (27,545 of 39,906). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (19,723) and Hispanic or Latino (7,588), and international students earned 2,698.
College Factual ranks 661 schools in its 2027 Best Design & Applied Arts Schools ranking, including 231 for associate degrees, 361 for bachelor’s degrees and 40 for master’s degrees. It also ranks design & applied arts schools within 47 states. In all, 1,084 colleges offer design & applied arts programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Design & Applied Arts Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common design & applied arts credential is the bachelor’s degree: 21,022 of the 39,906 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to design & applied arts call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Fine Arts, English Language and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Design and Applied Arts students are typically creative and have the ability to build products, designs, and images in their head. They can take these concepts from paper and create an actual product. Students are detail oriented and perfectionists. They have strong communication and interpersonal skills because they often are working for a client and must listen to what that client wants out of a design or product. Students in this field typically have a background in art.
Design and Applied arts graduates usually work in full time positions in offices, design labs, or on location working for a client. Hours vary depending on the type of work you are doing and if you are trying to meet a deadline.
Students interested in this area should pursue an internship, summer job, or position as an assistant to design professionals. This will allow you to gain experience in the field and get an understanding of how it works.
Depending on the area of specialization, you may only need to earn an associate's degree to work. It is best to look into your desired field of study to learn how much education is necessary and if additional certification is required.
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How long a design & applied arts degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 2,994 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 8,410 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 21,022 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 7,245 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 21 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to design & applied arts, at 33.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 33.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 30.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 20.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.1% |
| Some college courses | 3.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.4% |
| First professional degree | 1.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
15 occupations are related to Design & Applied Arts, with an average median salary of $71,209; the strongest outlook belongs to Artists and Related Workers, All Other, at 13.9% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Adjunct Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Instructor.
Design and Applied Arts graduates work in many industries including advertising, fashion, graphic design, illustration, interior design, and marketing. You will learn the skills to be successful in your desired area of specialization, making you an asset to companies, small businesses, or design firms.
Some careers in this field are not experiencing any growth, while others are growing at an average rate. This will play a role in the amount of competition graduates will face when looking for a job. Those with previous experience in their field should have an advantage in the job market.
The occupation related to design & applied arts with the most projected jobs is Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,074,154.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | 964,215 | -0.1% |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | 509,308 | 13.0% |
| Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary | 489,715 | 11.8% |
| Artists and Related Workers, All Other | 427,793 | 13.9% |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | 387,029 | 12.4% |
| Graphic Designers | 267,813 | 4.6% |
| Fashion Designers | 259,478 | -2.9% |
Design & Applied Arts graduates earn a median $32,258 one year after completing their program, $50,151 after four years and $47,460 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $32,258 |
| 4 years | $50,151 |
| 5 years | $47,460 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to design & applied arts is Set and Exhibit Designers, with a median salary of $109,049.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Set and Exhibit Designers | $109,049 |
| Art Directors | $103,285 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $88,198 |
| Artists and Related Workers, All Other | $83,610 |
| Photographers | $75,743 |
| Designers, All Other | $73,407 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $68,967 |
| Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,757 |
Design & Applied Arts includes 10 concentrations that together award 39,906 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Graphic Design (10,828), Design and Visual Communications, General (6,817) and Interior Design (5,801). It has 10 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 118,364 degrees a year; the largest are Fine and Studio Arts (39,642), Music (26,269) and Film/Video and Photographic Arts (19,222). Browse all Visual & Performing Arts majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Graphic Design | 10,828 |
| Design and Visual Communications, General | 6,817 |
| Interior Design | 5,801 |
| Fashion/Apparel Design | 3,254 |
| Illustration | 3,183 |
| Commercial and Advertising Art | 3,106 |
| Game and Interactive Media Design | 2,975 |
| Design and Applied Arts, Other | 1,743 |
| Industrial and Product Design | 1,433 |
| Commercial Photography | 766 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Fine and Studio Arts | 39,642 |
| Music | 26,269 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 19,222 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 16,328 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | 7,856 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | 4,713 |
| Dance | 3,317 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, Other | 964 |
| Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry | 46 |
| Community/Environmental/Socially-Engaged Art | 7 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
