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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools on the early-career earnings of their design and applied arts graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose design and applied arts graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Illinois Institute Of Technology, our #1 for design and applied arts graduate salaries in the United States. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology typically earn about $161,878 annually.
Rhode Island School Of Design came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Located in the city of Providence, Rhode Island School Of Design is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Rhode Island School Of Design typically earn about $87,069 annually.
A rank of #3 makes Florida State University one of the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $81,759.
Maryland Institute College Of Art came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Maryland Institute College Of Art is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $95,843.
Students chasing top earnings in design and applied arts will find them at Thomas Jefferson University, which ranked #5. Thomas Jefferson University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $73,016.
School Of Visual Arts landed the #6 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Located in the city of New York, School Of Visual Arts is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $86,536.
George Washington University earned the #7 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from George Washington University typically earn about $75,673 annually.
University Of Baltimore ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. University Of Baltimore is a public school located in the city of Baltimore. Design And Applied Arts graduates of University Of Baltimore earn a median of about $53,042 a year early in their careers.
The New School ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. The New School is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $89,284.
Pratt Institute Main came in at #10 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Pratt Institute Main is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Pratt Institute Main earn a median of about $76,669 a year early in their careers.
Arizona State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Arizona State University make a median of around $67,899 per year.
Arizona State University Skysong landed the #12 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Arizona State University Skysong is a public school located in the city of Scottsdale. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Arizona State University Skysong typically earn about $67,899 annually.
Marymount University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Set in the city of Arlington, Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Marymount University typically earn about $55,169 annually.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,950.
Liberty University placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Liberty University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Liberty University make a median of around $50,570 per year.
Savannah College Of Art And Design ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Set in the city of Savannah, Savannah College Of Art And Design is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Savannah College Of Art And Design make a median of around $60,114 per year.
Cranbrook Academy Of Art landed the #17 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Cranbrook Academy Of Art is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bloomfield Hills. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Cranbrook Academy Of Art make a median of around $63,447 per year.
Academy Of Art University landed the #18 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, Academy Of Art University is a private for-profit institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Academy Of Art University earn a median of about $58,596 a year early in their careers.
Virginia Commonwealth University placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,439.
Full Sail University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Winter Park, Full Sail University is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Full Sail University typically earn about $52,770 annually.
Pacific Northwest College Of Art earned the #21 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Portland, Pacific Northwest College Of Art 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 $43,887.
Iowa State University placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Iowa State University is a public school located in the city of Ames. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Iowa State University typically earn about $54,268 annually.
Atlantic College landed the #23 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Located in the city of Guaynabo, Atlantic College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Atlantic College typically earn about $22,695 annually.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Design And Applied Arts rankings across degree levels:
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 · 23 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.