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.
College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools.
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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 Dakota County Technical College the top school for design and applied arts graduate earnings in Minnesota. Located in the rural area of Rosemount, Dakota County Technical College is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Dakota County Technical College make a median of around $38,868 per year.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Minnesota Twin Cities one of the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities make a median of around $61,564 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Minneapolis Community And Technical College earned it the #3 place for design and applied arts. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Minneapolis Community And Technical College typically earn about $32,939 annually.
A rank of #4 makes Century College one of the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Century College earn a median of about $40,545 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in design and applied arts will find them at Alexandria Technical And Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Alexandria, Alexandria Technical And Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $41,084.
Minnesota State University Moorhead earned the #6 position 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.
Rasmussen College Minnesota landed the #7 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Located in the city of St. Cloud, Rasmussen College Minnesota is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Rasmussen College Minnesota typically earn about $32,268 annually.
Dunwoody College Of Technology landed the #8 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Dunwoody College Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Dunwoody College Of Technology typically earn about $40,302 annually.
Bemidji State University earned the #9 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a public institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Bemidji State University earn a median of about $34,819 a year early in their careers.
Northwestern College Minnesota placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Northwestern College Minnesota 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 $37,966.
University Of Minnesota Duluth earned the #11 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from University Of Minnesota Duluth make a median of around $43,529 per year.
Saint Cloud State University landed the #12 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Saint Cloud State University make a median of around $34,627 per year.
Concordia University Saint Paul placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a private not-for-profit institution. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Concordia University Saint Paul earn a median of about $34,384 a year early in their careers.
Minneapolis College Of Art And Design came in at #14 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis College Of Art And Design 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 $45,820.
St Catherine University landed the #15 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. St Catherine University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from St Catherine University typically earn about $31,547 annually.
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 · 15 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.