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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 51 schools on the early-career earnings of their design and applied arts graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send design and applied arts graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in design and applied arts, no school beat Gnomon School Of Visual Effects this year. Located in the city of North Hollywood, Gnomon School Of Visual Effects is a private for-profit institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Gnomon School Of Visual Effects earn a median of about $94,066 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #2 makes San Jose State University one of the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $93,917.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus produces some of the highest-paid graduates in design and applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public school located in the city of Seattle. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus typically earn about $85,351 annually.
University Of Southern California produces some of the highest-paid graduates in design and applied arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California 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 $79,947.
University Of California Los Angeles produces some of the highest-paid graduates in design and applied arts, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $85,813.
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology came in at #6 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a public school located in the suburb of Kirkland. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Lake Washington Institute Of Technology make a median of around $61,539 per year.
Art Center College Of Design came in at #7 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Pasadena, Art Center College Of Design is a private not-for-profit institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Art Center College Of Design earn a median of about $81,385 a year early in their careers.
Point Loma Nazarene University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Point Loma Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Point Loma Nazarene University make a median of around $59,941 per year.
Chapman University landed the #9 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Located 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.
Seattle Pacific University earned the #10 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Seattle Pacific University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $79,971.
Cornish College Of The Arts earned the #11 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Cornish College Of The Arts is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Cornish College Of The Arts typically earn about $52,508 annually.
Washington State University placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Washington State University is a public school located in the town of Pullman. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Washington State University earn a median of about $61,992 a year early in their careers.
Chemeketa Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Chemeketa Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Salem. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Chemeketa Community College earn a median of about $38,597 a year early in their careers.
Interior Designers Institute landed the #14 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Set in the city of Newport Beach, Interior Designers Institute is a private for-profit institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Interior Designers Institute make a median of around $33,144 per year.
California State University Long Beach placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. California State University Long Beach is a public school located in the city of Long Beach. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,824.
San Francisco State University landed the #16 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from San Francisco State University typically earn about $71,008 annually.
Portland State University came in at #17 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,970.
University Of California Davis placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from University Of California Davis typically earn about $67,513 annually.
Bellevue College earned the #19 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Bellevue, Bellevue College is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Bellevue College make a median of around $45,947 per year.
University Of San Francisco placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. University Of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from University Of San Francisco make a median of around $65,023 per year.
Western Washington University came in at #21 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Western Washington University typically earn about $64,470 annually.
Otis College Of Art And Design ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Otis College Of Art And Design is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Otis College Of Art And Design make a median of around $63,969 per year.
Portland Community College earned the #23 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Portland, Portland Community College is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Portland Community College earn a median of about $43,969 a year early in their careers.
University Of Oregon landed the #24 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Located in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from University Of Oregon typically earn about $64,994 annually.
Oregon State University landed the #25 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Oregon State University typically earn about $53,265 annually.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning design and applied arts graduates:
This list is compiled 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 · 51 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.
