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 49 schools to find where design and applied arts graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose design and applied arts graduates go on to earn the most.
Creighton University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the city of Omaha, Creighton 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 $59,760.
Drake University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Drake University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,719.
Dakota County Technical College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in design and applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Rosemount, Dakota County Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $38,868.
Southeast Community College Area came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Southeast Community College Area is a public school located in the city of Lincoln. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Southeast Community College Area earn a median of about $38,706 a year early in their careers.
Drury University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in design and applied arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Drury University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Drury University typically earn about $51,276 annually.
Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies landed the #6 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies typically earn about $51,276 annually.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,564.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College earned the #8 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Minneapolis Community And Technical College earn a median of about $32,939 a year early in their careers.
University Of North Dakota ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. University Of North Dakota is a public school located in the city of Grand Forks. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from University Of North Dakota make a median of around $48,840 per year.
Century College placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Century College is a public school located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $40,545.
Alexandria Technical And Community College placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Alexandria Technical And Community College is a public school located in the town of Alexandria. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Alexandria Technical And Community College earn a median of about $41,084 a year early in their careers.
Park University placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Park University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Parkville. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Park University typically earn about $46,340 annually.
North Dakota State University Main Campus placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Fargo. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,837.
University Of Kansas earned the #14 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. University Of Kansas is a public school located in the city of Lawrence. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,249.
Johnson County Community College landed the #15 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Located in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Johnson County Community College typically earn about $38,139 annually.
Iowa State University landed the #16 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Iowa State University is a public school located in the city of Ames. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of about $55,046 a year early in their careers.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis earned the #17 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Maryville University Of Saint Louis make a median of around $49,414 per year.
University Of Northern Iowa ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,416.
Bellevue University earned the #19 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue 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 $48,642.
Metropolitan Community College Area earned the #20 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Metropolitan Community College Area is a public school located in the city of Omaha. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Metropolitan Community College Area typically earn about $36,677 annually.
Rasmussen College Kansas ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Rasmussen College Kansas is a private for-profit school located in the city of Topeka. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Rasmussen College Kansas make a median of around $32,246 per year.
Rasmussen College North Dakota placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Rasmussen College North Dakota is a private for-profit school located in the city of Fargo. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Rasmussen College North Dakota make a median of around $32,246 per year.
South Dakota State University landed the #23 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,581.
Des Moines Area Community College placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Des Moines Area Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Des Moines Area Community College typically earn about $39,097 annually.
Minnesota State University Moorhead came in at #25 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Minnesota State University Moorhead earn a median of about $46,027 a year early in their careers.
These schools also send design and applied arts graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
The ranking above is published 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 · 49 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.
