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.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 8 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.
Our analysis ranked The University Of Tennessee the top school for design and applied arts graduate earnings in Tennessee. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of about $55,974 a year early in their careers.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Located in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga typically earn about $41,968 annually.
A rank of #3 makes Middle Tennessee State University one of the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Middle Tennessee State University make a median of around $38,807 per year.
East Tennessee State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from East Tennessee State University typically earn about $34,177 annually.
Belmont University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Belmont 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 $41,939.
Nashville State Community College earned the #6 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Nashville State Community College is a public school located in the city of Nashville. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Nashville State Community College earn a median of about $27,412 a year early in their careers.
Nossi College Of Art came in at #7 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Nossi College Of Art is a private for-profit institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Nossi College Of Art earn a median of about $39,974 a year early in their careers.
Chattanooga State Community College placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the city of Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Community College is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Chattanooga State Community College earn a median of about $31,084 a year early in their careers.
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 · 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.