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 highest-paying schools turn a design and applied arts degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find where design and applied arts graduates earn the most.
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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.
University Of Notre Dame earned the #1 spot for highest-paid design and applied arts graduates in Indiana. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame 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 $81,608.
Purdue University Main Campus produces some of the highest-paid graduates in design and applied arts, landing the #2 spot 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 came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis typically earn about $47,918 annually.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne one of the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Wayne. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne typically earn about $46,609 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Ball State University earned it the #5 place for design and applied arts. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Ball State University earn a median of about $36,864 a year early in their careers.
Grace College And Theological Seminary placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the town of Winona Lake, Grace College And Theological Seminary 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 $36,697.
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #7 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of about $49,921 a year early in their careers.
Ivy Tech Community College earned the #8 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Ivy Tech Community College is a public school located in the city of Indianapolis. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College typically earn about $29,532 annually.
Taylor University earned the #9 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of Upland, Taylor University is a private not-for-profit institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Taylor University earn a median of about $31,921 a year early in their careers.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Set in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne typically earn about $27,517 annually.
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 · 10 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.