by our College Data Analytics Team
[Design And Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find where design and applied arts graduates earn the most.
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.
Central Connecticut State University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools in Connecticut. Central Connecticut State University is a public school located in the suburb of New Britain. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Central Connecticut State University make a median of around $53,222 per year.
University Of Bridgeport produces some of the highest-paid graduates in design and applied arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Bridgeport, University Of Bridgeport 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 $47,145.
A rank of #3 makes Capital Community College one of the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Capital Community College make a median of around $29,626 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Quinnipiac University earned it the #4 place for design and applied arts. Located in the suburb of Hamden, Quinnipiac University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Quinnipiac University make a median of around $35,884 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in design and applied arts will find them at University Of Hartford, which ranked #5. University Of Hartford is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of West Hartford. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from University Of Hartford typically earn about $44,307 annually.
University Of New Haven came in at #6 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of West Haven, University Of New Haven is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from University Of New Haven make a median of around $26,425 per year.
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 · 6 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.