2021 Highest Paid Design & Applied Arts Graduates
Finding the Best Design & Applied Arts School for You
Design & Applied Arts is the #27 most popular major in the country with 19,137 bachelor's degrees awarded in 2018-2019.
The design school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we've developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of the Highest Paid Design Graduates.
This year's Highest Paid Design & Applied Arts Graduates ranking analyzed 223 colleges that offered a bachelor's degree in design.
The numbers used in this ranking are early career salaries, which we define to be 10 years after a student started college. This is the salary typically earned 4-6 years after graduation, but may be different depending on how long a person takes to complete their degree.
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Comparing Average Salaries of Design & Applied Arts Majors
After graduation, design and applied arts majors from schools in the United States earn an average salary of $31,649 per year. If salary is one of the most important things on your career list, you may be disappointed to hear that this is 20% less than the salary of a typical college graduate.
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2021 Highest Paid Design & Applied Arts Grads in the United States
Below you'll see a list of the colleges and universities that produce the highest paid design and applied arts majors.
Top 25 Best Schools for Highly Paid Design Graduates
Our rankings recognize Carnegie Mellon University as the #1 school in this year's rankings. Carnegie Mellon is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Pittsburgh. Design majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $87,900.
After completing their bachelor's degree, design graduates from Carnegie Mellon carry an average student debtload of $20,204. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $239.
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University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #2 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid design and applied arts school. UW Seattle is a fairly large public school located in the city of Seattle. Design majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $54,100.
While working on their bachelor's, design majors at UW Seattle accumulate an average of around $18,270 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $203.
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The #3 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network. Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Design majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $54,100.
After completing their bachelor's degree, design graduates from Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network carry an average student debtload of $25,534. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $301, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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The #4 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Northeastern University. Northeastern is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Design majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $54,100.
While working on their bachelor's, design majors at Northeastern accumulate an average of around $25,534 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $301, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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San Jose State University comes in at #5 in this year's ranking. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State is a public college with a fairly large student population. Design majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $53,400.
After completing their bachelor's degree, design graduates from San Jose State carry an average student debtload of $23,060. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $235.
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Art Center College of Design landed the #6 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid design and applied arts school. Art Center College of Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pasadena. Design majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $49,900.
On average, design graduates from Art Center College of Design take out $33,686 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $322, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Our rankings recognize Lawrence Technological University as the #7 school in this year's rankings. Lawrence Tech is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Southfield. Students who receive their bachelor's in design from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $48,900.
After completing their bachelor's degree, design graduates from Lawrence Tech carry an average student debtload of $25,594. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $280.
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Our rankings recognize Wentworth Institute of Technology as the #8 school in this year's rankings. WIT is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students who receive their bachelor's in design from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $48,800.
While working on their bachelor's, design majors at WIT accumulate an average of around $25,229 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $280.
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Texas Tech University landed the #8 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid design and applied arts school. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech is a public college with a very large student population.
The average amount in student loans that design majors at Texas Tech take out while working on their bachelor's is $26,390.
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The #9 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Chapman University. Chapman is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Orange. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, design majors make an average salary of $48,600.
On average, design graduates from Chapman take out $21,000 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $207.
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Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus comes in at #10 in this year's ranking. Georgia Tech is a very large public school located in the large city of Atlanta. Students who receive their bachelor's in design from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $47,500.
While working on their bachelor's, design majors at Georgia Tech accumulate an average of around $23,538 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $279.
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Lake Washington Institute of Technology landed the #11 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid design and applied arts school. Located in the suburb of Kirkland, LWTech is a public school with a small student population. Students who receive their bachelor's in design from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $46,300.
Design majors at LWTech take out an average of $27,908 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree.
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Our rankings recognize University of Wisconsin - Madison as the #12 school in this year's rankings. Located in the city of Madison, Wisconsin is a public school with a very large student population. Students who receive their bachelor's in design from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $45,600.
While working on their bachelor's, design majors at Wisconsin accumulate an average of around $21,864 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $241, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Texas Christian University earned the #13 spot in our 2021 rankings. TCU is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. Students who receive their bachelor's in design from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $45,100.
On average, design graduates from TCU take out $22,370 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $213.
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Washington University in St Louis landed the #13 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid design and applied arts school. WUSTL is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis.
The average amount in student loans that design majors at WUSTL take out while working on their bachelor's is $16,472. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $197.
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University of Florida earned the #14 spot in our 2021 rankings. Located in the medium-sized city of Gainesville, U of F is a public college with a very large student population. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in design from the school is $44,900.
After completing their bachelor's degree, design graduates from U of F carry an average student debtload of $19,540. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $171, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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University of Delaware landed the #15 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid design and applied arts school. Located in the suburb of Newark, U of Delaware is a public school with a fairly large student population. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in design from the school is $44,900.
After completing their bachelor's degree, design graduates from U of Delaware carry an average student debtload of $22,152. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $254, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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The #16 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Blacksburg. Design majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $44,600.
After completing their bachelor's degree, design graduates from Virginia Tech carry an average student debtload of $24,129. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $280.
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The University of Texas at Austin comes in at #17 in this year's ranking. Located in the large city of Austin, UT Austin is a public school with a very large student population. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in design from the school is $44,400.
On average, design graduates from UT Austin take out $23,321 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $268, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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University of Cincinnati - Main Campus earned the #18 spot in our 2021 rankings. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati is a public college with a very large student population. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in design from the school is $44,300.
While working on their bachelor's, design majors at Cincinnati accumulate an average of around $25,372 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $277, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Our rankings recognize George Washington University as the #19 school in this year's rankings. GWU is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Washington. Students who receive their bachelor's in design from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $43,900.
The average amount in student loans that design majors at GWU take out while working on their bachelor's is $28,377. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $280.
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Drexel University earned the #20 spot in our 2021 rankings. Drexel is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Philadelphia. Students who receive their bachelor's in design from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $43,500.
While working on their bachelor's, design majors at Drexel accumulate an average of around $23,273 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $275, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Our rankings recognize University of Notre Dame as the #20 school in this year's rankings. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.
While working on their bachelor's, design majors at Notre Dame accumulate an average of around $19,187 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $197.
Full Design & Applied Arts at University of Notre Dame Report
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Our rankings recognize Lehigh University as the #21 school in this year's rankings. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.
Full Design & Applied Arts at Lehigh University Report
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Florida State University earned the #21 spot in our 2021 rankings. Florida State is a very large public school located in the midsize city of Tallahassee. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in design from the school is $43,400.
The average amount in student loans that design majors at Florida State take out while working on their bachelor's is $18,795. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $187.
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Additional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great schools for Design students seeking high pay that almost earned our Highest Paid Design & Applied Arts Graduates award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Bellevue University | Bellevue, NE |
| 35 | SUNY New Paltz | New Paltz, NY |
| 36 | Suffolk University | Boston, MA |
| 37 | Temple University | Philadelphia, PA |
| 38 | College for Creative Studies | Detroit, MI |
| 39 | Boston University | Boston, MA |
| 40 | Arizona State University - Tempe | Tempe, AZ |
| 41 | North Carolina State University | Raleigh, NC |
| 41 | University of Denver | Denver, CO |
| 42 | University of Houston | Houston, TX |
| 43 | Western Washington University | Bellingham, WA |
| 44 | Maryville University of Saint Louis | Saint Louis, MO |
Design & Applied Arts by Region
View the Highest Paid Design & Applied Arts Graduates for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
Design & Applied Arts Related Rankings by Major
One of 9 majors within the Visual & Performing Arts area of study, Design & Applied Arts has other similar majors worth exploring.
Majors Similar to Design
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Fine & Studio Arts | 25,815 |
| Music | 15,747 |
| Drama & Theater Arts | 12,791 |
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 11,308 |
| General Visual & Performing Arts | 3,315 |
View All Design Related Majors >
Notes and References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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