Design and Applied Arts: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 338 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$196,797 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
37.3 yrsModeled economic break-even
−73%Modeled 10-year ROI
$52,204Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$52,204Median reported earnings · year 4
$52,550Average reported earnings · year 5
$26,977Median federal debt
28thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
338Reporting programs
318With 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$44,540National median$52,20475th percentile$59,928
318 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Carnegie Mellon University$138,5882Lawrence Technological University$99,4443Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus$95,6974University of Washington-Seattle Campus$89,1935University of Southern California$89,0226Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute$87,3587Northeastern University$87,3368University of Notre Dame$83,4149Chapman University$78,12110Art Center College of Design$76,093Observed 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 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $138,588 | $24,500 | +204% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Lawrence Technological UniversityBachelor's Degree | Southfield, MI | $99,444 | Not available | +75% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $95,697 | $26,354 | +122% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $89,193 | $12,250 | +87% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | University of Southern CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $89,022 | $18,262 | +42% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteBachelor's Degree | Troy, NY | $87,358 | $25,000 | +30% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | Northeastern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $87,336 | $28,250 | +39% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | University of Notre DameBachelor's Degree | Notre Dame, IN | $83,414 | $20,250 | +34% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Chapman UniversityBachelor's Degree | Orange, CA | $78,121 | $23,000 | -10% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Art Center College of DesignBachelor's Degree | Pasadena, CA | $76,093 | $31,050 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | University of RedlandsBachelor's Degree | Redlands, CA | $75,374 | Not available | +1% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | Florida State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Tallahassee, FL | $73,888 | $22,250 | +28% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | Boston UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $72,809 | $21,250 | +0% | Positive payoff |
| 14 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Blacksburg, VA | $72,213 | $25,802 | -3% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | University of Cincinnati-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Cincinnati, OH | $71,605 | $25,851 | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Syracuse UniversityBachelor's Degree | Syracuse, NY | $71,527 | $27,000 | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | The University of Texas at AustinBachelor's Degree | Austin, TX | $69,846 | $22,500 | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Western Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bellingham, WA | $69,715 | $20,000 | -7% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | University of DenverBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $69,251 | Not available | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Washington State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pullman, WA | $69,224 | $22,802 | +1% | Positive payoff |
| 21 | The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleBachelor's Degree | Knoxville, TN | $69,047 | Not available | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Laguna College of Art and DesignBachelor's Degree | Laguna Beach, CA | $68,934 | $27,000 | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Seattle Pacific UniversityBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $68,547 | $26,000 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Texas Christian UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fort Worth, TX | $68,313 | Not available | -29% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Wentworth Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $68,160 | $27,000 | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | Ohio State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $68,151 | $25,100 | -7% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Miami University-OxfordBachelor's Degree | Oxford, OH | $67,981 | $26,000 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Bellevue CollegeBachelor's Degree | Bellevue, WA | $67,797 | $33,660 | +1% | Positive payoff |
| 29 | Washington University in St LouisBachelor's Degree | St. Louis, MO | $67,771 | $19,089 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Rhode Island School of DesignBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $67,771 | $27,000 | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | University of DelawareBachelor's Degree | Newark, DE | $67,742 | $26,000 | -9% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Interior Designers InstituteBachelor's Degree | Newport Beach, CA | $67,473 | $28,655 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 33 | University of DaytonBachelor's Degree | Dayton, OH | $66,679 | Not available | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | New Jersey Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Newark, NJ | $66,488 | $27,000 | -13% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | California State University, Long BeachBachelor's Degree | Long Beach, CA | $66,435 | $17,215 | -3% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | University of California, Santa CruzBachelor's Degree | Santa Cruz, CA | $66,333 | Not available | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Drexel UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $66,294 | $27,000 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | University of California, Los AngelesBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $66,259 | $20,000 | -8% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Clemson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Clemson, SC | $66,150 | $26,000 | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | Marist UniversityBachelor's Degree | Poughkeepsie, NY | $66,010 | $26,929 | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | Colorado State University-Fort CollinsBachelor's Degree | Fort Collins, CO | $65,940 | Not available | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonBachelor's Degree | Madison, WI | $65,874 | $20,875 | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | University of ArkansasBachelor's Degree | Fayetteville, AR | $65,780 | $23,881 | -18% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | University of FloridaBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $65,656 | $19,839 | +0% | Positive payoff |
| 45 | University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusBachelor's Degree | Norman, OK | $65,646 | $27,000 | -14% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | University of OregonBachelor's Degree | Eugene, OR | $65,573 | $29,050 | -23% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignBachelor's Degree | Champaign, IL | $65,186 | $18,839 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | University of HoustonBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | $64,612 | $27,000 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | Endicott CollegeBachelor's Degree | Beverly, MA | $64,559 | $27,000 | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Utah State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Logan, UT | $64,175 | Not available | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | St. John's University-New YorkBachelor's Degree | Queens, NY | $63,659 | $27,000 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | Emmanuel CollegeBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $63,616 | $27,000 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Baylor UniversityBachelor's Degree | Waco, TX | $63,522 | $26,500 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | University of KentuckyBachelor's Degree | Lexington, KY | $62,966 | $27,000 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $62,414 | $24,000 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | Weber State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ogden, UT | $62,281 | $21,851 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | University of California, DavisBachelor's Degree | Davis, CA | $62,209 | $15,000 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | Woodbury UniversityBachelor's Degree | Burbank, CA | $62,092 | $26,980 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | East Texas A&M UniversityBachelor's Degree | Commerce, TX | $61,748 | Not available | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Franklin UniversityBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $61,736 | $49,063 | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Metropolitan State University of DenverBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $61,654 | $29,125 | -31% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | High Point UniversityBachelor's Degree | High Point, NC | $61,635 | Not available | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | Illinois State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Normal, IL | $61,628 | $24,986 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | Auburn UniversityBachelor's Degree | Auburn, AL | $61,609 | $26,000 | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | Texas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Marcos, TX | $61,539 | $24,353 | -33% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleBachelor's Degree | Carbondale, IL | $61,493 | Not available | -29% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | Quinnipiac UniversityBachelor's Degree | Hamden, CT | $61,419 | $26,976 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | North Carolina State University at RaleighBachelor's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $61,382 | $20,500 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | College for Creative StudiesBachelor's Degree | Detroit, MI | $61,222 | $26,000 | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | Kansas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Manhattan, KS | $61,150 | Not available | -37% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | Bradley UniversityBachelor's Degree | Peoria, IL | $60,888 | Not available | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | Fashion Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $60,882 | $25,000 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaBachelor's Degree | Chattanooga, TN | $60,807 | $25,000 | -33% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | Temple UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $60,782 | $26,875 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | Harding UniversityBachelor's Degree | Searcy, AR | $60,567 | Not available | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | The University of AlabamaBachelor's Degree | Tuscaloosa, AL | $60,546 | $26,505 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | Oregon State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Corvallis, OR | $60,434 | $23,419 | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | Oregon State University-Cascades CampusBachelor's Degree | Bend, OR | $60,434 | $23,419 | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | Suffolk UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $60,159 | $27,000 | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | Loyola University ChicagoBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $59,928 | Not available | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | Pratt Institute-MainBachelor's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $59,792 | $26,000 | -62% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | Thomas Jefferson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $59,731 | $27,000 | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | San Francisco State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $59,678 | $18,000 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 84 | California State University, NorthridgeBachelor's Degree | Northridge, CA | $59,676 | Not available | -29% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $59,641 | $21,500 | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Scottsdale, AZ | $59,641 | $21,500 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 87 | Susquehanna UniversityBachelor's Degree | Selinsgrove, PA | $59,551 | $27,000 | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 88 | University of KansasBachelor's Degree | Lawrence, KS | $59,441 | $26,000 | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 89 | California College of the ArtsBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $59,238 | $27,000 | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 90 | University of Illinois ChicagoBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $59,188 | $25,750 | -37% | Negative payoff |
| 91 | Purdue University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $58,917 | $20,250 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 92 | Drake UniversityBachelor's Degree | Des Moines, IA | $58,834 | Not available | -53% | Negative payoff |
| 93 | Western Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kalamazoo, MI | $58,634 | $27,000 | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 94 | Western Carolina UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cullowhee, NC | $58,467 | $29,911 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 95 | Belmont UniversityBachelor's Degree | Nashville, TN | $58,314 | $27,000 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 96 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AltoonaBachelor's Degree | Altoona, PA | $58,105 | $26,000 | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 97 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $58,105 | $26,000 | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 98 | LIM CollegeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $58,061 | $27,000 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 99 | Kennesaw State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kennesaw, GA | $57,755 | $20,500 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 100 | University of North TexasBachelor's Degree | Denton, TX | $57,753 | $22,288 | -47% | Negative payoff |
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.