Design and Applied Arts: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 116 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$194,433 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting associate's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 2-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
—Modeled economic break-even
−169%Modeled 10-year ROI
$37,065Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$37,065Median reported earnings · year 4
$35,889Average reported earnings · year 5
$15,000Median federal debt
14thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
116Reporting programs
110With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $38,351
- Federal debt
- $13,414
- Reporting programs
- 35
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $37,065
- Federal debt
- $15,000
- Reporting programs
- 116
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $52,204
- Federal debt
- $26,977
- Reporting programs
- 338
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $69,930
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 21
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $70,550
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$34,242National median$37,06575th percentile$41,159
110 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1The New School$66,8962Portland Community College$50,8113College of DuPage$50,2644Waukesha County Technical College$49,5095Minneapolis Community and Technical College$48,9526CUNY New York City College of Technology$48,8337Johnson County Community College$48,0848Central Piedmont Community College$47,9679Madison Area Technical College$47,51510Middlesex Community College$47,167Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1121 · 6 crosswalk linksGraphic DesignersSOC 27-1024 · 4 crosswalk linksArtists and Related Workers, All OtherSOC 27-1019 · 3 crosswalk linksCommercial and Industrial DesignersSOC 27-1021 · 3 crosswalk linksDesigners, All OtherSOC 27-1029 · 3 crosswalk linksSet and Exhibit DesignersSOC 27-1027 · 2 crosswalk linksSpecial Effects Artists and AnimatorsSOC 27-1014 · 2 crosswalk linksWeb and Digital Interface DesignersSOC 15-1255 · 2 crosswalk linksArchitecture Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1031 · 1 crosswalk linksArt DirectorsSOC 27-1011 · 1 crosswalk linksFashion DesignersSOC 27-1022 · 1 crosswalk linksInterior DesignersSOC 27-1025 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The New SchoolAssociate's Degree | New York, NY | $66,896 | $21,211 | +6% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Portland Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Portland, OR | $50,811 | $17,512 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | College of DuPageAssociate's Degree | Glen Ellyn, IL | $50,264 | $10,653 | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Waukesha County Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Pewaukee, WI | $49,509 | $15,554 | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Minneapolis Community and Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $48,952 | $18,601 | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | CUNY New York City College of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $48,833 | Not available | -62% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Johnson County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Overland Park, KS | $48,084 | $13,625 | -74% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Central Piedmont Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Charlotte, NC | $47,967 | Not available | -69% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Madison Area Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Madison, WI | $47,515 | $15,750 | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Middlesex Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bedford, MA | $47,167 | $12,755 | -77% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Scottsdale Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Scottsdale, AZ | $46,898 | Not available | -84% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Dunwoody College of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $46,361 | Not available | -91% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Fashion Institute of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | New York, NY | $45,096 | $12,000 | -99% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Arapahoe Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Littleton, CO | $44,888 | $15,000 | -101% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | CUNY LaGuardia Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Long Island City, NY | $44,831 | Not available | -102% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | New England Institute of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | East Greenwich, RI | $44,313 | $12,000 | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Alexandria Technical & Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Alexandria, MN | $44,165 | $12,000 | -107% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Saint Louis Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bridgeton, MO | $43,874 | Not available | -111% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Seattle Central CollegeAssociate's Degree | Seattle, WA | $43,416 | $14,085 | -115% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Seminole State College of FloridaAssociate's Degree | Sanford, FL | $43,175 | $10,667 | -117% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Oklahoma State University Institute of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Okmulgee, OK | $43,131 | Not available | -117% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Metropolitan Community College AreaAssociate's Degree | Omaha, NE | $42,343 | $12,526 | -127% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Spokane Falls Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Spokane, WA | $42,113 | $14,657 | -128% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Wake Technical Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $41,986 | Not available | -128% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Owens Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Perrysburg, OH | $41,595 | Not available | -131% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | Austin Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Austin, TX | $41,552 | $19,939 | -134% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Northampton County Area Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bethlehem, PA | $41,282 | $15,250 | -133% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Northern Virginia Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Annandale, VA | $41,159 | $18,250 | -135% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Palm Beach State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Lake Worth, FL | $40,966 | Not available | -137% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Salt Lake Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $40,740 | $10,766 | -139% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | Academy of Art UniversityAssociate's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $40,595 | $33,437 | -126% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Fox Valley Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Appleton, WI | $40,534 | $16,582 | -140% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | Collin County Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | McKinney, TX | $40,300 | $6,900 | -144% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | The Modern College of DesignAssociate's Degree | Kettering, OH | $39,430 | $5,500 | -133% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | Monroe Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Rochester, NY | $39,328 | $10,250 | -155% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Luzerne County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Nanticoke, PA | $39,244 | Not available | -153% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Hawkeye Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Waterloo, IA | $38,795 | Not available | -157% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Full Sail UniversityAssociate's Degree | Winter Park, FL | $38,716 | $34,679 | -137% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Forsyth Technical Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Winston-Salem, NC | $38,367 | Not available | -164% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | Western Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | La Crosse, WI | $38,303 | $12,057 | -160% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | Bismarck State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bismarck, ND | $37,776 | Not available | -165% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | Rasmussen University-FloridaAssociate's Degree | Ocala, FL | $37,689 | $28,722 | -155% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Rasmussen University-MinnesotaAssociate's Degree | St. Cloud, MN | $37,689 | $28,722 | -158% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | Rasmussen University-North DakotaAssociate's Degree | Fargo, ND | $37,689 | $28,722 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 45 | Rasmussen University-IllinoisAssociate's Degree | Rockford, IL | $37,689 | $28,722 | -156% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | Rasmussen University-WisconsinAssociate's Degree | Green Bay, WI | $37,689 | $28,722 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 47 | Rasmussen University-KansasAssociate's Degree | Topeka, KS | $37,689 | $28,722 | -153% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | Northwest CollegeAssociate's Degree | Powell, WY | $37,672 | Not available | -170% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | Nassau Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Garden City, NY | $37,466 | $10,600 | -172% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Mohawk Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Utica, NY | $37,280 | $9,534 | -171% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Macomb Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Warren, MI | $37,216 | $10,500 | -183% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | Sinclair Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Dayton, OH | $37,187 | $11,000 | -177% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Suffolk County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Selden, NY | $37,147 | $9,132 | -178% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | College of Southern NevadaAssociate's Degree | Las Vegas, NV | $37,133 | $9,500 | -176% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Des Moines Area Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Ankeny, IA | $36,996 | $13,625 | -171% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | Chattanooga State Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Chattanooga, TN | $36,691 | $11,681 | -183% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | Montana State UniversityAssociate's Degree | Bozeman, MT | $36,357 | $18,880 | -164% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | Horry-Georgetown Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Conway, SC | $36,262 | $17,500 | -189% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | Lehigh Carbon Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Schnecksville, PA | $36,208 | Not available | -181% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Century CollegeAssociate's Degree | White Bear Lake, MN | $35,917 | $15,000 | -181% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Harrisburg Area Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Harrisburg, PA | $35,131 | $17,500 | -183% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | Roosevelt UniversityAssociate's Degree | Chicago, IL | $35,066 | $13,834 | -176% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | Bryant & Stratton College-Syracuse NorthAssociate's Degree | Liverpool, NY | $34,606 | $17,511 | -186% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | Bryant & Stratton College-BuffaloAssociate's Degree | Buffalo, NY | $34,606 | $17,511 | -188% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | Bryant & Stratton College-GreeceAssociate's Degree | Rochester, NY | $34,606 | $17,511 | -192% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | Bryant & Stratton College-WauwatosaAssociate's Degree | Wauwatosa, WI | $34,606 | $17,511 | -187% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | Springfield Technical Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Springfield, MA | $34,598 | Not available | -203% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | Columbus State Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Columbus, OH | $34,540 | Not available | -198% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | Connecticut State Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | New Britain, CT | $34,324 | Not available | -194% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | Vet Tech Institute of IndianaAssociate's Degree | Indianapolis, IN | $34,242 | $10,143 | -188% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | Gateway Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Kenosha, WI | $33,848 | $15,500 | -196% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | Guilford Technical Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Jamestown, NC | $33,521 | $19,000 | -196% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | Ivy Tech Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Indianapolis, IN | $33,515 | $12,710 | -210% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | Milwaukee Area Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Milwaukee, WI | $33,449 | Not available | -207% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | Texas State Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Waco, TX | $32,604 | $15,679 | -206% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | Montgomery CollegeAssociate's Degree | Rockville, MD | $32,319 | Not available | -220% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | Gwinnett Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Lawrenceville, GA | $31,343 | $18,997 | -232% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | Cuyahoga Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Cleveland, OH | $30,936 | $11,795 | -243% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | CUNY Hostos Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bronx, NY | $30,848 | Not available | -241% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | Pima Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $30,813 | Not available | -247% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | Delgado Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | New Orleans, LA | $30,671 | $19,500 | -231% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | Houston City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Houston, TX | $30,434 | Not available | -244% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | CUNY Kingsborough Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $30,135 | Not available | -247% | Negative payoff |
| 84 | Rowan College at Burlington CountyAssociate's Degree | Mount Laurel, NJ | $29,790 | Not available | -251% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | Onondaga Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Syracuse, NY | $29,787 | $9,922 | -242% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | Keiser University-Ft LauderdaleAssociate's Degree | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $29,280 | $24,792 | -204% | Negative payoff |
| 87 | Tidewater Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Norfolk, VA | $28,976 | $12,320 | -241% | Negative payoff |
| 88 | Henry Ford CollegeAssociate's Degree | Dearborn, MI | $27,504 | $19,075 | -292% | Negative payoff |
| 89 | Pratt Institute-MainAssociate's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $26,557 | $12,000 | -194% | Negative payoff |
| 90 | South Texas CollegeAssociate's Degree | McAllen, TX | $23,961 | Not available | -325% | Negative payoff |
| 91 | Guam Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Mangilao, GU | $22,238 | Not available | -332% | Negative payoff |
| 92 | EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc-San SebastianAssociate's Degree | San Sebastian, PR | $20,282 | $7,900 | -338% | Negative payoff |
| 93 | EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc-San JuanAssociate's Degree | San Juan, PR | $20,282 | $7,900 | -331% | Negative payoff |
| 94 | EDP University of Puerto Rico-HumacaoAssociate's Degree | Humacao, PR | $20,282 | $7,900 | -315% | Negative payoff |
| 95 | EDP University of Puerto Rico-ManatiAssociate's Degree | Manati, PR | $20,282 | $7,900 | -334% | Negative payoff |
| 96 | EDP University of Puerto Rico-CaguasAssociate's Degree | Caguas, PR | $20,282 | $7,900 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 97 | Interior Designers InstituteAssociate's Degree | Newport Beach, CA | Not available | $23,814 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 98 | Kirkwood Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Cedar Rapids, IA | Not available | $10,519 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $9,705 |
| 99 | Berkeley College-Woodland ParkAssociate's Degree | Woodland Park, NJ | Not available | $17,500 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $27,100 |
| 100 | Oklahoma City Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Oklahoma City, OK | Not available | $14,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $4,739 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.