by our College Data Analytics Team
[Design And Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools.
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.
For graduate earnings in design and applied arts, no school beat University Of Kansas this year. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,249.
Johnson County Community College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in design and applied arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Johnson County Community College is a public school located in the city of Overland Park. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Johnson County Community College typically earn about $38,139 annually.
Rasmussen College Kansas produces some of the highest-paid graduates in design and applied arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Topeka, Rasmussen College Kansas is a private for-profit institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Rasmussen College Kansas make a median of around $32,246 per year.
Wichita State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in design and applied arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Wichita State University is a public school located in the city of Wichita. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Wichita State University typically earn about $45,071 annually.
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 · 4 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.