How much do Design and Applied Arts bachelor's degree graduates from Rhode Island School of Design earn?

The reported median is $67,771 four years after completion.

How much federal debt do graduates of this program have?

The reported median federal debt among borrowers is $27,000.

Is this program above or below similar programs?

Reported year-four earnings are 32% above the national median for the same field and degree level.

← Program directory

COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Design and Applied Arts bachelor's degree at Rhode Island School of Design

Providence, RI · Private nonprofit

What this page covers

Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are notably above similar programs.

$16,281 above the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings: 39.8% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff: $11,928 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff: −40% · Negative payoff
Available price data: College-wide context only

PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →

$0Annual price+$47,710

$14,000Annual price−$8,290

$28,000Annual price−$64,290

$42,000Annual price−$120,290

$51,000Current college-wide context−$156,290

$56,000Annual price−$176,290

$70,000Annual price−$232,290

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+131%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$29,489 → $68,157

137Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

Not availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

179Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

158Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$43,811Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential

NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

195Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

51Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

72Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

137Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

194Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,808Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$67,771$32,963 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 39 Parent PLUS borrowers.

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$50,507

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$27,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$67,771

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$286/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$50,507Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$81,727Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE18.7%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE88.8%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$29,489Year 1

$67,771Year 4

$68,157Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.1% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$5,648

Estimated loan payment$286

158borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$67,771 vs. $51,490

$16,281 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$97,580 median wageRI estimate · 440 jobs · 25-1121$77,300–$127,100 middle 50% of RI wages+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 8,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeGraphic Designers$78,220 median wageRI estimate · 750 jobs · 27-1024$62,050–$93,370 middle 50% of RI wages-1.7% projected U.S. growth · 16,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommercial and Industrial Designers$101,140 median wageRI estimate · 190 jobs · 27-1021$78,250–$125,650 middle 50% of RI wages+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 2,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeArtists and Related Workers, All Other$71,240 median wageU.S. estimate · 6,930 jobs · 27-1019+2.0% projected U.S. growth · 1,100 openings/yrTypical entry: No formal educational credentialDesigners, All Other$64,950 median wageU.S. estimate · 9,480 jobs · 27-1029+1.2% projected U.S. growth · 2,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWeb and Digital Interface Designers$105,990 median wageRI estimate · 240 jobs · 15-1255$76,350–$137,110 middle 50% of RI wages+6.0% projected U.S. growth · 8,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSpecial Effects Artists and Animators$80,040 median wageRI estimate · 19,970 jobs · 27-1014$48,640–$84,510 middle 50% of RI wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 4,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSet and Exhibit Designers$75,240 median wageU.S. estimate · 10,630 jobs · 27-1027+1.4% projected U.S. growth · 2,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeArchitecture Teachers, Postsecondary$92,010 median wageRI estimate · 100 jobs · 25-1031$78,720–$128,730 middle 50% of RI wages+2.6% projected U.S. growth · 700 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeFashion Designers$80,960 median wageU.S. estimate · 21,450 jobs · 27-1022+0.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeArt Directors$72,550 median wageRI estimate · 90 jobs · 27-1011$66,250–$107,810 middle 50% of RI wages+4.2% projected U.S. growth · 12,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePostsecondary Teachers, All Other$60,390 median wageRI estimate · 770 jobs · 25-1199$60,280–$95,910 middle 50% of RI wages+2.0% projected U.S. growth · 12,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degree

Possible alternatives