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. The schools below stand out for the salaries their design and applied arts graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 3 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.
Our analysis ranked Auburn University the top school for design and applied arts graduate earnings in Alabama. Auburn University is a public school located in the city of Auburn. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Auburn University earn a median of about $58,793 a year early in their careers.
The University Of Alabama came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Set 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.
Samford University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in design and applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Birmingham, Samford University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Samford University typically earn about $41,323 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 · 3 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.