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SAME FIELD · SAME CREDENTIAL · ONE STATE

Design and Applied Arts bachelor's degree programs in Washington

Compare 8 reporting programs using the same federal field and bachelor's degree credential definition. Earnings are observed four years after completion.

8Programs reporting earnings

$67,797Median year-4 earnings

$23,792Median federal debt

8Programs reporting debt

OUTCOME SPREAD

Highest reported earnings in Washington

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

1University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle · $12,250 federal debt$89,193 2Western Washington UniversityBellingham · $20,000 federal debt$69,715 3Washington State UniversityPullman · $22,802 federal debt$69,224 4Seattle Pacific UniversitySeattle · $26,000 federal debt$68,547 5Bellevue CollegeBellevue · $33,660 federal debt$67,797 6Walla Walla UniversityCollege Place · $28,000 federal debt$54,035 7Seattle UniversitySeattle · $23,792 federal debt$53,117 8Northwest College of Art & DesignTacoma · $30,750 federal debt$35,885

CAREER CONTEXT IN WA

What related occupations pay in Washington

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: $77,950
Middle 50% wage range: $62,030–$96,750
State employment: 1,400
Projected growth: +2.2%
Annual openings: 8,000

10th–90th percentile: $52,230–$103,170

27-1024Graphic Designers

State median wage: $72,710
Middle 50% wage range: $57,390–$93,490
State employment: 3,960
Projected growth: -1.7%
Annual openings: 16,000

10th–90th percentile: $47,780–$115,210

27-1021Commercial and Industrial Designers

State median wage: $94,280
Middle 50% wage range: $80,580–$127,570
State employment: 340
Projected growth: +2.4%
Annual openings: 2,800

10th–90th percentile: $62,390–$153,910

27-1029Designers, All Other

State median wage: $57,510
Middle 50% wage range: $49,880–$80,000
State employment: 350
Projected growth: +1.2%
Annual openings: 2,100

10th–90th percentile: $46,030–$111,970

27-1014Special Effects Artists and Animators

State median wage: $133,480
Middle 50% wage range: $100,550–$174,990
State employment: 1,130
Projected growth: -0.3%
Annual openings: 4,200

10th–90th percentile: $65,270–$209,400

15-1255Web and Digital Interface Designers

State median wage: $130,480
Middle 50% wage range: $75,570–$170,400
State employment: 11,580
Projected growth: +6.0%
Annual openings: 8,300

10th–90th percentile: $60,580–$217,290

27-1027Set and Exhibit Designers

State median wage: $77,230
Middle 50% wage range: $59,990–$129,280
State employment: 170
Projected growth: +1.4%
Annual openings: 2,200

10th–90th percentile: $53,880–$164,070

27-1011Art Directors

State median wage: $121,170
Middle 50% wage range: $82,790–$157,140
State employment: 650
Projected growth: +4.2%
Annual openings: 12,200

10th–90th percentile: $69,690–$215,900

Career wages and employment are BLS estimates for everyone working in each occupation in Washington; 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	University of Washington-Seattle Campus	Seattle	$89,193	$12,250
2	Western Washington University	Bellingham	$69,715	$20,000
3	Washington State University	Pullman	$69,224	$22,802
4	Seattle Pacific University	Seattle	$68,547	$26,000
5	Bellevue College	Bellevue	$67,797	$33,660
6	Walla Walla University	College Place	$54,035	$28,000
7	Seattle University	Seattle	$53,117	$23,792
8	Northwest College of Art & Design	Tacoma	$35,885	$30,750

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 Washington

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

Across 8 reporting programs, the median observed earnings figure is $67,797 four years after completion.

How much federal debt is reported for these programs?

The median is $23,792 among the 8 programs reporting federal debt.

Which Washington colleges report the highest earnings for this degree?

The table compares the same federal field, credential and earnings year. University of Washington-Seattle Campus has the highest reported figure among the programs shown.