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 15 schools to find where design and applied arts graduates earn the most.
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Below are the schools whose design and applied arts graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in design and applied arts, no school beat Arapahoe Community College this year. Located in the suburb of Littleton, Arapahoe Community College is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Arapahoe Community College make a median of around $44,854 per year.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a public school located in the city of Denver. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Metropolitan State College Of Denver earn a median of about $64,448 a year early in their careers.
Montana State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Set in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Montana State University make a median of around $36,931 per year.
North Idaho College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. North Idaho College is a public school located in the city of Coeur d'Alene. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from North Idaho College typically earn about $35,835 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Utah Valley University earned it the #5 place for design and applied arts. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Utah Valley University typically earn about $44,631 annually.
Weber State University came in at #6 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,898.
Southern Utah University earned the #7 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Southern Utah University earn a median of about $46,163 a year early in their careers.
Brigham Young University Provo ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Brigham Young University Provo is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Brigham Young University Provo earn a median of about $59,245 a year early in their careers.
Salt Lake Community College earned the #9 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Salt Lake Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Salt Lake Community College make a median of around $33,160 per year.
Northwest College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Northwest College is a public school located in the town of Powell. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Northwest College make a median of around $30,265 per year.
Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Lakewood. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design typically earn about $45,743 annually.
Boise State University landed the #12 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Located in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Boise State University make a median of around $39,301 per year.
Mesa State College placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Mesa State College is a public school located in the city of Grand Junction. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $34,036.
Front Range Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Front Range Community College make a median of around $21,397 per year.
University Of Denver ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from University Of Denver typically earn about $31,104 annually.
The ranking above is published 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 · 15 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.