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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find where design and applied arts graduates earn the most.
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.
Drake University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools in Iowa. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Drake University typically earn about $56,719 annually.
Iowa State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in design and applied arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of about $54,992 a year early in their careers.
University Of Northern Iowa produces some of the highest-paid graduates in design and applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Northern Iowa is a public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,416.
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Des Moines Area Community College make a median of around $39,097 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Kirkwood Community College earned it the #5 place for design and applied arts. Set in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Kirkwood Community College make a median of around $32,116 per year.
Grand View University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Grand View University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Grand View University typically earn about $53,635 annually.
Hawkeye Community College landed the #7 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Set in the rural area of Waterloo, Hawkeye Community College is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Hawkeye Community College typically earn about $30,356 annually.
Upper Iowa University landed the #8 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Upper Iowa University is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Fayette. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $31,122.
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 · 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.