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.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools.
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.
Utah Valley University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid design and applied arts graduates in Utah. Set in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $44,631.
Students chasing top earnings in design and applied arts will find them at Weber State University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Weber State University make a median of around $54,898 per year.
A rank of #3 makes Southern Utah University one of the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Located in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Southern Utah University typically earn about $46,163 annually.
A rank of #4 makes Brigham Young University Provo one of the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Brigham Young University Provo is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo typically earn about $59,245 annually.
Salt Lake Community College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in design and applied arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $33,160.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their design and applied arts graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 5 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.