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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 69 schools on the early-career earnings of their design and applied arts graduates.
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 County College Of Morris this year. County College Of Morris is a public school located in the suburb of Randolph. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from County College Of Morris typically earn about $54,286 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Carnegie Mellon University earned it the #2 place for design and applied arts. Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Carnegie Mellon University make a median of around $66,274 per year.
George Washington University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in design and applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Located 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 $62,031 annually.
Seton Hall University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in design and applied arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a private not-for-profit institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Seton Hall University earn a median of about $56,686 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in design and applied arts will find them at University Of Delaware, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $70,925.
Syracuse University earned the #6 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of about $64,921 a year early in their careers.
Marymount Manhattan College placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the city of New York, Marymount Manhattan College is a private not-for-profit institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Marymount Manhattan College earn a median of about $52,162 a year early in their careers.
Temple University earned the #8 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Temple University make a median of around $63,888 per year.
Susquehanna University placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Susquehanna University is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Selinsgrove. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Susquehanna University earn a median of about $63,532 a year early in their careers.
Finger Lakes Community College came in at #10 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Canandaigua, Finger Lakes Community College is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Finger Lakes Community College typically earn about $37,547 annually.
Drexel University earned the #11 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Drexel University make a median of around $67,219 per year.
Onondaga Community College landed the #12 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Syracuse, Onondaga Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $35,938.
Pratt Institute Main placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Pratt Institute Main make a median of around $67,814 per year.
East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania landed the #14 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Located in the town of East Stroudsburg, East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania typically earn about $48,232 annually.
Suny College At Buffalo placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the city of Buffalo, Suny College At Buffalo is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Suny College At Buffalo earn a median of about $48,191 a year early in their careers.
Sussex County Community College came in at #16 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Newton, Sussex County Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $34,977.
Pennsylvania College Of Technology placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Located in the city of Williamsport, Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Pennsylvania College Of Technology typically earn about $45,572 annually.
Kean University earned the #18 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Union, Kean University is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Kean University earn a median of about $59,125 a year early in their careers.
Thomas Jefferson University earned the #19 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Thomas Jefferson University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Thomas Jefferson University typically earn about $56,844 annually.
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania earned the #20 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Kutztown, Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $50,452 a year early in their careers.
State University Of New York At New Paltz came in at #21 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. State University Of New York At New Paltz is a public school located in the town of New Paltz. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from State University Of New York At New Paltz typically earn about $57,835 annually.
Marist College placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Marist College make a median of around $65,701 per year.
Rochester Institute Of Technology ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Rochester Institute Of Technology make a median of around $55,746 per year.
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus landed the #24 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Located in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,226.
Cecil College placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the rural area of North East, Cecil College is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Cecil College make a median of around $32,214 per year.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid design and applied arts ranking:
This list is compiled 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 · 69 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.