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 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 15 schools to find where design and applied arts graduates earn the most.
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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.
Leading the list is North Carolina State University At Raleigh, our #1 for design and applied arts graduate salaries in North Carolina. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public school located in the city of Raleigh. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from North Carolina State University At Raleigh make a median of around $61,375 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at East Carolina University earned it the #2 place for design and applied arts. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from East Carolina University typically earn about $53,859 annually.
A rank of #3 makes Wake Technical Community College one of the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Wake Technical Community College earn a median of about $44,014 a year early in their careers.
Appalachian State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of about $54,970 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #5 makes University Of North Carolina At Greensboro one of the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a public school located in the city of Greensboro. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro make a median of around $48,573 per year.
Western Carolina University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Western Carolina University is a public school located in the town of Cullowhee. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Western Carolina University typically earn about $51,717 annually.
Meredith College earned the #7 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, Meredith College is a private not-for-profit institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Meredith College earn a median of about $46,268 a year early in their careers.
Central Piedmont Community College earned the #8 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College typically earn about $32,514 annually.
Queens University Of Charlotte placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the city of Charlotte, Queens University Of Charlotte is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Queens University Of Charlotte typically earn about $49,008 annually.
Forsyth Technical Community College came in at #10 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Forsyth Technical Community College typically earn about $29,715 annually.
North Carolina A And T State University placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. North Carolina A And T State University is a public school located in the city of Greensboro. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from North Carolina A And T State University typically earn about $44,151 annually.
Guilford Technical Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of Jamestown, Guilford Technical Community College is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Guilford Technical Community College typically earn about $35,360 annually.
Fayetteville Technical Community College placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $26,981.
Peace College placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the city of Raleigh, Peace College is a private not-for-profit institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Peace College earn a median of about $33,536 a year early in their careers.
Wayne Community College placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $20,225.
This list is compiled 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 · 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.