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SAME FIELD · SAME CREDENTIAL · ONE STATE

Design and Applied Arts bachelor's degree programs in Massachusetts

Compare 12 reporting programs using the same federal field and bachelor's degree credential definition. Earnings are observed four years after completion.

12Programs reporting earnings

$51,857Median year-4 earnings

$27,000Median federal debt

12Programs reporting debt

OUTCOME SPREAD

Highest reported earnings in Massachusetts

Each bar uses the same field, credential, state and earnings year.

1Northeastern UniversityBoston · $28,250 federal debt$87,336 2Boston UniversityBoston · $21,250 federal debt$72,809 3Wentworth Institute of TechnologyBoston · $27,000 federal debt$68,160 4Endicott CollegeBeverly · $27,000 federal debt$64,559 5Emmanuel CollegeBoston · $27,000 federal debt$63,616 6Suffolk UniversityBoston · $27,000 federal debt$60,159 7University of Massachusetts-DartmouthNorth Dartmouth · $27,000 federal debt$51,857 8Massachusetts College of Art and DesignBoston · $26,000 federal debt$45,716 9Lesley UniversityCambridge · $26,500 federal debt$45,099 10Fitchburg State UniversityFitchburg · $27,000 federal debt$42,946

CAREER CONTEXT IN MA

What related occupations pay in Massachusetts

These are common occupational matches for this field, ranked by the strength of the federal education-to-occupation match.

25-1121Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary

State median wage: $85,820
Middle 50% wage range: $65,760–$111,710
State employment: 4,960
Projected growth: +2.2%
Annual openings: 8,000

10th–90th percentile: $59,920–$156,070

27-1024Graphic Designers

State median wage: $76,710
Middle 50% wage range: $60,030–$95,990
State employment: 4,450
Projected growth: -1.7%
Annual openings: 16,000

10th–90th percentile: $47,830–$108,970

27-1021Commercial and Industrial Designers

State median wage: $101,720
Middle 50% wage range: $81,570–$128,200
State employment: 1,240
Projected growth: +2.4%
Annual openings: 2,800

10th–90th percentile: $76,010–$149,990

27-1019Artists and Related Workers, All Other

State median wage: $94,890
Middle 50% wage range: $60,840–$120,430
State employment: 50
Projected growth: +2.0%
Annual openings: 1,100

10th–90th percentile: $51,530–$143,210

15-1255Web and Digital Interface Designers

State median wage: $113,540
Middle 50% wage range: $86,420–$157,510
State employment: 2,740
Projected growth: +6.0%
Annual openings: 8,300

10th–90th percentile: $71,110–$178,050

27-1014Special Effects Artists and Animators

State median wage: $80,640
Middle 50% wage range: $63,090–$98,370
State employment: Not reported
Projected growth: -0.3%
Annual openings: 4,200

10th–90th percentile: $57,900–$109,820

27-1027Set and Exhibit Designers

State median wage: $74,540
Middle 50% wage range: $56,400–$100,200
State employment: 230
Projected growth: +1.4%
Annual openings: 2,200

10th–90th percentile: $51,870–$123,640

27-1011Art Directors

State median wage: $149,320
Middle 50% wage range: $101,290–$169,710
State employment: 1,850
Projected growth: +4.2%
Annual openings: 12,200

10th–90th percentile: $78,470–$218,270

Career wages and employment are BLS estimates for everyone working in each occupation in Massachusetts; they are not earnings or placement rates for graduates of these programs. Wage ranges show the distribution across workers, not an entry-to-experienced career path. Growth and annual openings are national 2025–35 projections. BLS reports openings in thousands; DegreeVerdict displays the corresponding job count. These figures provide labor-market context and are not used in DegreeVerdict payoff or ROI calculations.

ALL REPORTING PROGRAMS

Compare every available outcome

Sorted by observed year-4 earnings. Open a row for its exact college-and-degree profile.

#	College	City	Median year-4 earnings	Median federal debt
1	Northeastern University	Boston	$87,336	$28,250
2	Boston University	Boston	$72,809	$21,250
3	Wentworth Institute of Technology	Boston	$68,160	$27,000
4	Endicott College	Beverly	$64,559	$27,000
5	Emmanuel College	Boston	$63,616	$27,000
6	Suffolk University	Boston	$60,159	$27,000
7	University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth	North Dartmouth	$51,857	$27,000
8	Massachusetts College of Art and Design	Boston	$45,716	$26,000
9	Lesley University	Cambridge	$45,099	$26,500
10	Fitchburg State University	Fitchburg	$42,946	$27,000
11	Montserrat College of Art	Beverly	$33,496	$27,000
12	Lasell University	Newton	$32,379	$27,000

This is an observed-outcomes comparison, not a universal quality ranking. Missing and privacy-suppressed programs are excluded.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

A quick read on Design and Applied Arts in Massachusetts

What do Design and Applied Arts bachelor's degree graduates earn in Massachusetts?

Across 12 reporting programs, the median observed earnings figure is $51,857 four years after completion.

How much federal debt is reported for these programs?

The median is $27,000 among the 12 programs reporting federal debt.

Which Massachusetts colleges report the highest earnings for this degree?

The table compares the same federal field, credential and earnings year. Northeastern University has the highest reported figure among the programs shown.