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. The schools below stand out for the salaries their design and applied arts graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 80 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.
University Of Florida earned the #1 spot for highest-paid design and applied arts graduates in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of about $73,474 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in design and applied arts will find them at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University make a median of around $65,699 per year.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh produces some of the highest-paid graduates in design and applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from North Carolina State University At Raleigh make a median of around $61,375 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in design and applied arts will find them at Auburn University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,793.
Students chasing top earnings in design and applied arts will find them at Clemson University, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,835.
Florida State University earned the #6 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. 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 $52,542.
Miami Ad School At Portfolio Center earned the #7 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Miami Ad School At Portfolio Center is a private for-profit institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Miami Ad School At Portfolio Center make a median of around $72,830 per year.
Miami Ad School Wynwood came in at #8 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Ad School Wynwood is a private for-profit institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Miami Ad School Wynwood earn a median of about $72,830 a year early in their careers.
The University Of Alabama ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from The University Of Alabama make a median of around $57,905 per year.
Palm Beach State College earned the #10 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Palm Beach State College is a public school located in the suburb of Lake Worth. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Palm Beach State College make a median of around $36,768 per year.
West Virginia University came in at #11 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. West Virginia University is a public school located in the city of Morgantown. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from West Virginia University make a median of around $61,505 per year.
University Of Kentucky landed the #12 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of about $57,495 a year early in their careers.
Gwinnett Technical College earned the #13 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Gwinnett Technical College is a public school located in the suburb of Lawrenceville. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Gwinnett Technical College typically earn about $39,266 annually.
Chattahoochee Technical College came in at #14 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Chattahoochee Technical College is a public school located in the suburb of Marietta. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Chattahoochee Technical College make a median of around $34,941 per year.
Northern Kentucky University landed the #15 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,819.
East Carolina University placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. East Carolina University is a public school located in the city of Greenville. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from East Carolina University make a median of around $53,859 per year.
University Of South Florida Main Campus landed the #17 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from University Of South Florida Main Campus make a median of around $54,896 per year.
Winthrop University landed the #18 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Located in the city of Rock Hill, Winthrop University is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Winthrop University earn a median of about $52,038 a year early in their careers.
Charleston Southern University placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the city of Charleston, Charleston Southern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Charleston Southern University earn a median of about $44,751 a year early in their careers.
Marymount University placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Located in the city of Arlington, Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Marymount University make a median of around $60,370 per year.
The University Of Tennessee landed the #21 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee typically earn about $55,974 annually.
Wake Technical Community College placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Wake Technical Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Raleigh. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Wake Technical Community College earn a median of about $44,014 a year early in their careers.
West Liberty University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. West Liberty University is a public school located in the rural area of West Liberty. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from West Liberty University make a median of around $43,982 per year.
Northern Virginia Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Northern Virginia Community College make a median of around $33,232 per year.
University Of Central Arkansas landed the #25 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. University Of Central Arkansas is a public school located in the city of Conway. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from University Of Central Arkansas typically earn about $43,106 annually.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid design and applied arts ranking:
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 · 80 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.