by our College Data Analytics Team
[Design And Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The highest-paying schools turn a design and applied arts degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 32 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools.
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.
Gnomon School Of Visual Effects earned the #1 spot for highest-paid design and applied arts graduates in California. Located in the city of North Hollywood, Gnomon School Of Visual Effects is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Gnomon School Of Visual Effects typically earn about $94,066 annually.
San Jose State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in design and applied arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from San Jose State University typically earn about $93,917 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in design and applied arts will find them at University Of Southern California, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from University Of Southern California make a median of around $79,947 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of California Los Angeles earned it the #4 place for design and applied arts. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles typically earn about $85,813 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in design and applied arts will find them at Art Center College Of Design, which ranked #5. Art Center College Of Design is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pasadena. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $81,385.
Point Loma Nazarene University landed the #6 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Set in the city of San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Point Loma Nazarene University typically earn about $59,941 annually.
Chapman University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. 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.
Interior Designers Institute landed the #8 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Located in the city of Newport Beach, Interior Designers Institute is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Interior Designers Institute typically earn about $33,144 annually.
California State University Long Beach came in at #9 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from California State University Long Beach typically earn about $67,824 annually.
San Francisco State University landed the #10 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Set 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.
University Of California Davis placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of about $67,513 a year early in their careers.
University Of San Francisco landed the #12 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from University Of San Francisco make a median of around $65,023 per year.
Otis College Of Art And Design came in at #13 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Otis College Of Art And Design is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Otis College Of Art And Design typically earn about $63,969 annually.
California College Of The Arts landed the #14 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. California College Of The Arts is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. Design And Applied Arts graduates of California College Of The Arts earn a median of about $62,146 a year early in their careers.
California State University Sacramento ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. California State University Sacramento is a public school located in the city of Sacramento. Design And Applied Arts graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of about $56,723 a year early in their careers.
California State University Northridge placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from California State University Northridge typically earn about $49,713 annually.
California State University Monterey Bay landed the #17 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. California State University Monterey Bay is a public school located in the suburb of Seaside. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from California State University Monterey Bay make a median of around $56,342 per year.
California State University Dominguez Hills earned the #18 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $39,701.
Laguna College Of Art And Design landed the #19 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Set in the rural area of Laguna Beach, Laguna College Of Art And Design is a private not-for-profit institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Laguna College Of Art And Design earn a median of about $56,145 a year early in their careers.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from California State Polytechnic University Pomona make a median of around $52,064 per year.
Fidm Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising Los Angeles ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Fidm Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising Los Angeles is a private for-profit institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Fidm Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising Los Angeles earn a median of about $42,544 a year early in their careers.
Newschool Of Architecture And Design ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Newschool Of Architecture And Design is a private for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $37,132.
Platt College Ontario landed the #23 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Platt College Ontario is a private for-profit school located in the city of Ontario. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Platt College Ontario earn a median of about $29,740 a year early in their careers.
Academy Of Art University came in at #24 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, Academy Of Art University is a private for-profit institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Academy Of Art University make a median of around $56,444 per year.
California State University Chico came in at #25 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from California State University Chico make a median of around $46,813 per year.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid design and applied arts ranking:
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 · 32 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.
