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.
College Factual analyzed 72 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.
For graduate earnings in design and applied arts, no school beat Lawrence Technological University this year. Set in the city of Southfield, Lawrence Technological University is a private not-for-profit institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Lawrence Technological University earn a median of about $72,639 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at School Of Advertising Art Inc earned it the #2 place for design and applied arts. School Of Advertising Art Inc is a private for-profit school located in the city of Kettering. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from School Of Advertising Art Inc make a median of around $41,953 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Notre Dame earned it the #3 place for design and applied arts. Set 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.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of about $69,447 a year early in their careers.
Miami University Oxford produces some of the highest-paid graduates in design and applied arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of about $67,080 a year early in their careers.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #6 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus typically earn about $69,416 annually.
Elgin Community College placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set 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.
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public school located in the city of Madison. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from University Of Wisconsin Madison make a median of around $58,646 per year.
Western Michigan University placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,581.
University Of Dayton earned the #10 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton 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 $60,018.
Waukesha County Technical College earned the #11 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $34,755.
Augustana College Illinois came in at #12 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Augustana College Illinois make a median of around $49,518 per year.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #13 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of about $70,046 a year early in their careers.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #14 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $53,610 a year early in their careers.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned the #15 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of about $47,918 a year early in their careers.
University Of Wisconsin Stout placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. University Of Wisconsin Stout is a public school located in the town of Menomonie. Design And Applied Arts graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stout earn a median of about $51,582 a year early in their careers.
Central Michigan University earned the #17 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,215.
Milwaukee Area Technical College placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Milwaukee Area Technical College typically earn about $43,680 annually.
Fox Valley Technical College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Fox Valley Technical College is a public school located in the suburb of Appleton. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Fox Valley Technical College make a median of around $36,286 per year.
Eastern Michigan University placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University typically earn about $52,336 annually.
College For Creative Studies earned the #21 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. College For Creative Studies is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Detroit. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,568.
Michigan State University earned the #22 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,108.
University Of Akron Main Campus landed the #23 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of about $49,246 a year early in their careers.
Carthage College landed the #24 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Set in the city of Kenosha, Carthage College is a private not-for-profit institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Carthage College earn a median of about $55,354 a year early in their careers.
Cedarville University landed the #25 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Cedarville University is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Cedarville. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,239.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning design and applied arts graduates:
This ranking is produced 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 · 72 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.