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 highest-paying schools turn a design and applied arts degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 34 schools on the early-career earnings of their design and applied arts graduates.
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.
Leading the list is Southern Methodist University, our #1 for design and applied arts graduate salaries in the Southwest Region. Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Southern Methodist University make a median of around $67,905 per year.
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of about $88,050 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes Austin Community College District one of the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Austin Community College District is a public school located in the city of Austin. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Austin Community College District typically earn about $43,956 annually.
A rank of #4 makes Texas Christian University one of the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Texas Christian University earn a median of about $60,241 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Houston one of the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. University Of Houston is a public school located in the city of Houston. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from University Of Houston make a median of around $64,210 per year.
Texas State University San Marcos placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Texas State University San Marcos make a median of around $62,197 per year.
Scottsdale Community College came in at #7 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Scottsdale Community College make a median of around $36,987 per year.
Mesa Community College placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Located in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Mesa Community College make a median of around $39,863 per year.
University Of Central Oklahoma ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Edmond, University Of Central Oklahoma is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of University Of Central Oklahoma earn a median of about $59,192 a year early in their careers.
Baylor University landed the #10 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Located in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Baylor University make a median of around $62,970 per year.
Arizona State University landed the #11 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,351.
Collin County Community College District came in at #12 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $33,456.
Sam Houston State University came in at #13 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Sam Houston State University make a median of around $48,480 per year.
University Of North Texas landed the #14 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. University Of North Texas is a public school located in the city of Denton. Design And Applied Arts graduates of University Of North Texas earn a median of about $55,345 a year early in their careers.
El Centro College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of El Centro College earn a median of about $54,749 a year early in their careers.
Northern Arizona University landed the #16 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of about $54,011 a year early in their careers.
Pima Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Pima Community College is a public school located in the city of Tucson. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Pima Community College typically earn about $32,150 annually.
Arizona State University Skysong landed the #18 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Set in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Arizona State University Skysong earn a median of about $66,292 a year early in their careers.
San Antonio College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. San Antonio College is a public school located in the city of San Antonio. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $31,633.
Grand Canyon University placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Grand Canyon University earn a median of about $38,976 a year early in their careers.
Oklahoma Christian University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Located in the city of Edmond, Oklahoma Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Oklahoma Christian University earn a median of about $49,855 a year early in their careers.
Sessions College For Professional Design placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Located in the city of Tempe, Sessions College For Professional Design is a private for-profit institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Sessions College For Professional Design earn a median of about $38,446 a year early in their careers.
Abilene Christian University came in at #23 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Abilene, Abilene Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Abilene Christian University typically earn about $38,553 annually.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of about $37,755 a year early in their careers.
University Of The Incarnate Word landed the #25 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, University Of The Incarnate Word 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 $52,068.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning design and applied arts graduates:
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 · 34 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.