by our College Data Analytics Team
[Design And Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The schools below stand out for the salaries their design and applied arts graduates go on to command.
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.
Leading the list is San Jose State University, our #1 for design and applied arts graduate salaries in the United States. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of San Jose State University earn a median of about $93,917 a year early in their careers.
Lawrence Technological University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Lawrence Technological University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Southfield. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Lawrence Technological University make a median of around $72,639 per year.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public school located in the city of Seattle. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from University Of Washington Seattle Campus make a median of around $85,351 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Stonehill College earned it the #4 place for design and applied arts. Set in the suburb of Easton, Stonehill College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $71,309.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Southern California earned it the #5 place for design and applied arts. University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from University Of Southern California make a median of around $79,947 per year.
University Of California Los Angeles earned the #6 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from University Of California Los Angeles make a median of around $85,813 per year.
Southern Methodist University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Southern Methodist University make a median of around $67,905 per year.
Northeastern University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $95,088.
Carnegie Mellon University placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University typically earn about $66,274 annually.
George Washington University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from George Washington University typically earn about $62,031 annually.
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #11 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a public school located in the city of Austin. Design And Applied Arts graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of about $88,050 a year early in their careers.
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology earned the #12 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a public school located in the suburb of Kirkland. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,539.
Art Center College Of Design came in at #13 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Art Center College Of Design is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pasadena. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Art Center College Of Design earn a median of about $81,385 a year early in their careers.
University Of Notre Dame came in at #14 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame typically earn about $81,608 annually.
Texas Christian University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Texas Christian University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Texas Christian University typically earn about $60,241 annually.
Point Loma Nazarene University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Set in the city of San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Point Loma Nazarene University earn a median of about $59,941 a year early in their careers.
Creighton University came in at #17 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Creighton University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Omaha. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Creighton University typically earn about $59,760 annually.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #18 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus typically earn about $69,447 annually.
Chapman University placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a private not-for-profit institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Chapman University earn a median of about $77,615 a year early in their careers.
Wentworth Institute Of Technology placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the city of Boston, Wentworth Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Wentworth Institute Of Technology typically earn about $67,547 annually.
Drake University came in at #21 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,719.
Seton Hall University earned the #22 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Seton Hall University typically earn about $56,686 annually.
Seattle Pacific University placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Seattle Pacific University make a median of around $79,971 per year.
University Of Florida came in at #24 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $73,474.
Miami University Oxford placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,080.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid design and applied arts ranking:
Also worth considering for earnings in design and applied arts:
| Rank | College | Location | Avg Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #51 | California State University Long Beach | Long Beach, CA | $67,824 | Full Report |
| #52 | Augustana College Illinois | Rock Island, IL | $49,518 | Full Report |
| #53 | Metropolitan State College Of Denver | Denver, CO | $64,448 | Full Report |
| #54 | San Francisco State University | San Francisco, CA | $71,008 | Full Report |
| #55 | Boston University | Boston, MA | $49,254 | Full Report |
| #56 | University Of Central Oklahoma | Edmond, OK | $59,192 | Full Report |
| #57 | University Of North Dakota | Grand Forks, ND | $48,840 | Full Report |
| #58 | University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign | Champaign, IL | $70,046 | Full Report |
| #59 | Baylor University | Waco, TX | $62,970 | Full Report |
| #60 | Pratt Institute Main | Brooklyn, NY | $67,814 | Full Report |
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Design And Applied Arts rankings across degree levels:
The ranking above is published 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.