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. The schools below stand out for the salaries their design and applied arts graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools on the early-career earnings of their design and applied arts graduates.
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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 University Of Washington Seattle Campus this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from University Of Washington Seattle Campus make a median of around $85,351 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in design and applied arts will find them at Lake Washington Institute Of Technology, which ranked #2. Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a public school located in the suburb of Kirkland. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Lake Washington Institute Of Technology earn a median of about $61,539 a year early in their careers.
Seattle Pacific University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Seattle Pacific University typically earn about $79,971 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Cornish College Of The Arts earned it the #4 place for design and applied arts. Set in the city of Seattle, Cornish College Of The Arts is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Cornish College Of The Arts typically earn about $52,508 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Washington State University earned it the #5 place for design and applied arts. Set in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,992.
Bellevue College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. 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.
Western Washington University placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Located in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Western Washington University make a median of around $64,470 per year.
Seattle Community College Central Campus landed the #8 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle Community College Central Campus is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Seattle Community College Central Campus make a median of around $29,775 per year.
Walla Walla University earned the #9 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of College Place, Walla Walla University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Walla Walla University make a median of around $28,436 per year.
Northwest College Of Art And Design ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Set in the city of Tacoma, Northwest College Of Art And Design is a private for-profit institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Northwest College Of Art And Design make a median of around $27,694 per year.
Spokane Falls Community College earned the #11 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Spokane, Spokane Falls Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $21,508.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries design and applied arts graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 11 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.