by our College Data Analytics Team
[Design And Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 100 schools to find where design and applied arts graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose design and applied arts graduates go on to earn the most.
County College Of Morris earned the #1 spot for highest-paid design and applied arts graduates in the United States. Located in the suburb of Randolph, County College Of Morris is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from County College Of Morris typically earn about $54,286 annually.
A rank of #2 makes The New School one of the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the city of New York, The New School is a private not-for-profit institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of The New School earn a median of about $56,224 a year early in their careers.
Interior Designers Institute produces some of the highest-paid graduates in design and applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Newport Beach, Interior Designers Institute is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $33,394.
Wake Technical Community College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in design and applied arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Wake Technical Community College make a median of around $44,420 per year.
School Of Advertising Art Inc came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Located in the city of Kettering, School Of Advertising Art Inc is a private for-profit institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from School Of Advertising Art Inc make a median of around $41,953 per year.
Austin Community College District ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of about $43,956 a year early in their careers.
Utah Valley University landed the #7 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Utah Valley University typically earn about $41,142 annually.
Mesa Community College came in at #8 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Mesa Community College typically earn about $40,530 annually.
Century College landed the #9 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Located in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $40,545.
Elgin Community College landed the #10 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Elgin Community College make a median of around $39,299 per year.
Dakota County Technical College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Dakota County Technical College is a public school located in the rural area of Rosemount. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $38,868.
Southeast Community College Area placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Southeast Community College Area is a public school located in the city of Lincoln. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Southeast Community College Area typically earn about $38,706 annually.
Chemeketa Community College earned the #13 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Salem, Chemeketa Community College is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Chemeketa Community College typically earn about $38,597 annually.
Scottsdale Community College landed the #14 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Scottsdale Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Scottsdale. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Scottsdale Community College typically earn about $36,987 annually.
Finger Lakes Community College landed the #15 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Set in the rural area of Canandaigua, Finger Lakes Community College is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Finger Lakes Community College typically earn about $37,547 annually.
Waukesha County Technical College came in at #16 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Waukesha County Technical College make a median of around $34,755 per year.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College landed the #17 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Minneapolis Community And Technical College make a median of around $32,939 per year.
Arapahoe Community College landed the #18 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Arapahoe Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Littleton. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Arapahoe Community College typically earn about $44,854 annually.
Montana State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Set in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Montana State University typically earn about $36,931 annually.
Palm Beach State College landed the #20 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Palm Beach State College make a median of around $36,768 per year.
Onondaga Community College came in at #21 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Onondaga Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Syracuse. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Onondaga Community College typically earn about $35,938 annually.
North Idaho College landed the #22 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. North Idaho College is a public school located in the city of Coeur d'Alene. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from North Idaho College typically earn about $35,835 annually.
Alexandria Technical And Community College came in at #23 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Alexandria Technical And Community College is a public school located in the town of Alexandria. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Alexandria Technical And Community College earn a median of about $41,084 a year early in their careers.
Gwinnett Technical College placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Gwinnett Technical College is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Gwinnett Technical College make a median of around $39,266 per year.
Sussex County Community College came in at #25 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Sussex County Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Newton. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Sussex County Community College earn a median of about $34,977 a year early in their careers.
These schools also send design and applied arts graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Design And Applied Arts rankings across degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their design and applied arts graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.