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 12 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 Drury University the top school for design and applied arts graduate earnings in Missouri. 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 came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies make a median of around $51,276 per year.
Park University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Set in the suburb of Parkville, Park University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Park University typically earn about $46,340 annually.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Maryville University Of Saint Louis typically earn about $49,414 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in design and applied arts will find them at Stephens College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Columbia, Stephens College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, design and applied arts degree recipients from Stephens College typically earn about $39,639 annually.
University Of Central Missouri landed the #6 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. University Of Central Missouri is a public school located in the town of Warrensburg. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from University Of Central Missouri make a median of around $42,852 per year.
Missouri Western State University earned the #7 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Saint Joseph, Missouri Western State University is a public institution. Students who complete the design and applied arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $37,200.
Kansas City Art Institute landed the #8 spot for design and applied arts salaries this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, Kansas City Art Institute 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 $46,472.
Saint Louis Community College earned the #9 position for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Bridgeton, Saint Louis Community College is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Saint Louis Community College make a median of around $32,360 per year.
Missouri State University Springfield placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for design and applied arts. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a public institution. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Missouri State University Springfield make a median of around $37,505 per year.
Washington University In St Louis came in at #11 for design and applied arts graduate earnings this year. Washington University In St Louis is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. Early-career design and applied arts graduates from Washington University In St Louis make a median of around $33,615 per year.
Webster University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying design and applied arts schools. Webster University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Design And Applied Arts graduates of Webster University earn a median of about $20,257 a year early in their careers.
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 · 12 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.