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SAME FIELD · SAME CREDENTIAL · ONE STATE

Design and Applied Arts undergraduate certificate or diploma programs in North Carolina

Compare 5 reporting programs using the same federal field and undergraduate certificate or diploma credential definition. Earnings are observed four years after completion.

5Programs reporting earnings

$36,502Median year-4 earnings

$11,500Median federal debt

2Programs reporting debt

OUTCOME SPREAD

Highest reported earnings in North Carolina

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

1Wake Technical Community CollegeRaleigh · $13,414 federal debt$41,857 2Central Piedmont Community CollegeCharlotte · Debt not reported$39,933 3Wayne Community CollegeGoldsboro · Debt not reported$36,502 4Guilford Technical Community CollegeJamestown · $11,500 federal debt$35,628 5Fayetteville Technical Community CollegeFayetteville · Debt not reported$24,406

CAREER CONTEXT IN NC

What related occupations pay in North Carolina

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: $73,800
Middle 50% wage range: $55,390–$84,710
State employment: 2,880
Projected growth: +2.2%
Annual openings: 8,000

10th–90th percentile: $45,460–$104,620

27-1024Graphic Designers

State median wage: $58,450
Middle 50% wage range: $46,710–$74,410
State employment: 5,660
Projected growth: -1.7%
Annual openings: 16,000

10th–90th percentile: $37,680–$95,380

27-1019Artists and Related Workers, All Other

State median wage: $81,850
Middle 50% wage range: $68,420–$106,330
State employment: 80
Projected growth: +2.0%
Annual openings: 1,100

10th–90th percentile: $57,580–$128,380

27-1021Commercial and Industrial Designers

State median wage: $80,620
Middle 50% wage range: $61,750–$102,000
State employment: 1,000
Projected growth: +2.4%
Annual openings: 2,800

10th–90th percentile: $48,830–$134,040

27-1029Designers, All Other

State median wage: $51,740
Middle 50% wage range: $40,880–$76,340
State employment: 120
Projected growth: +1.2%
Annual openings: 2,100

10th–90th percentile: $38,360–$109,380

15-1255Web and Digital Interface Designers

State median wage: $97,990
Middle 50% wage range: $63,920–$133,860
State employment: 3,400
Projected growth: +6.0%
Annual openings: 8,300

10th–90th percentile: $44,530–$163,850

27-1014Special Effects Artists and Animators

State median wage: $88,350
Middle 50% wage range: $62,530–$105,260
State employment: 370
Projected growth: -0.3%
Annual openings: 4,200

10th–90th percentile: $53,790–$120,150

27-1027Set and Exhibit Designers

State median wage: $49,410
Middle 50% wage range: $42,370–$60,150
State employment: Not reported
Projected growth: +1.4%
Annual openings: 2,200

10th–90th percentile: $22,160–$87,510

Career wages and employment are BLS estimates for everyone working in each occupation in North Carolina; 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	Wake Technical Community College	Raleigh	$41,857	$13,414
2	Central Piedmont Community College	Charlotte	$39,933	Not available
3	Wayne Community College	Goldsboro	$36,502	Not available
4	Guilford Technical Community College	Jamestown	$35,628	$11,500
5	Fayetteville Technical Community College	Fayetteville	$24,406	Not available

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 North Carolina

What do Design and Applied Arts undergraduate certificate or diploma graduates earn in North Carolina?

Across 5 reporting programs, the median observed earnings figure is $36,502 four years after completion.

How much federal debt is reported for these programs?

The median is $11,500 among the 2 programs reporting federal debt.

Which North Carolina colleges report the highest earnings for this degree?

The table compares the same federal field, credential and earnings year. Wake Technical Community College has the highest reported figure among the programs shown.