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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the early-career earnings of their design and applied arts graduates.
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If you want to know which schools send design and applied arts graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
University Of Central Arkansas tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools in Arkansas. Located in the city of Conway, University Of Central Arkansas is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of University Of Central Arkansas earn a median of about $43,106 a year early in their careers.
University Of Arkansas produces some of the highest-paid graduates in design and applied arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of University Of Arkansas earn a median of about $41,782 a year early in their careers.
Arkansas State University Main Campus produces some of the highest-paid graduates in design and applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Arkansas State University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Jonesboro. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,812.
Students chasing top earnings in design and applied arts will find them at Harding University, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Searcy, Harding University 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 $46,032.
Students chasing top earnings in design and applied arts will find them at University Of Arkansas Fort Smith, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Fort Smith, University Of Arkansas Fort Smith is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from University Of Arkansas Fort Smith make a median of around $36,606 per year.
John Brown University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Located in the town of Siloam Springs, John Brown University is a private not-for-profit institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of John Brown University earn a median of about $51,158 a year early in their careers.
Arkansas Tech University placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Arkansas Tech University is a public school located in the town of Russellville. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Arkansas Tech University earn a median of about $40,422 a year early in their careers.
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Set in the town of Magnolia, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Southern Arkansas University Main Campus earn a median of about $22,016 a year early in their careers.
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 · 8 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.