How much do Design and Applied Arts bachelor's degree graduates from Washington State University earn?

The reported median is $69,224 four years after completion.

How much federal debt do graduates of this program have?

The reported median federal debt among borrowers is $22,802.

Is this program above or below similar programs?

Reported year-four earnings are 34% above the national median for the same field and degree level.

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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Design and Applied Arts bachelor's degree at Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public

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.

$17,734 above the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings: 32.9% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff: $15,560 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff: +1% · Positive 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+$62,240

$8,000Annual price+$30,240

$15,000Current college-wide context+$2,240

$16,000Annual price−$1,760

$24,000Annual price−$33,760

$32,000Annual price−$65,760

$40,000Annual price−$97,760

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+38%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$44,823 → $61,992

Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

19Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

31Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

26Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

Not availableAwarding-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.

98Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

58Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

67Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

16.5%Federal-aid non-completion rate2022–23 program cohort · 15 non-completers

31Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$39,073Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$69,224$30,151 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 29 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$14,971

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

02 · BORROWING$22,802

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$69,224

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$242/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

ADDITIONAL WORKFORCE PROGRAM REPORTS

2 related offerings reported to the Department of Labor

These provider-reported records add named prices, completion and employment context where available. They describe a separate workforce-program cohort and may include non-degree training, so they are not blended into the College Scorecard earnings or DegreeVerdict ROI.

Undergraduate Certificate · CIP 50.0411

Game Studies and Design

Reported price: $7,109
Completion: Not reported
Employed in Q2: Not reported
Q2 quarterly earnings: Not available

This program provides in-person instruction only.

Undergraduate Certificate · CIP 50.0409

Graphic Design Certificate

Reported price: $7,109
Completion: Not reported
Employed in Q2: Not reported
Q2 quarterly earnings: Not available

This program provides in-person instruction only.

Program year 2022. Quarterly earnings are not annual salary. Suppressed values appear as “Not reported.” Source: U.S. Department of Labor TrainingProviderResults.gov. Showing 2 of 2 related records.

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$14,971Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$27,648Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE86.6%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE60.5%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.

$44,823Year 1

$69,224Year 4

$61,992Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

4.2% 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$5,769

Estimated loan payment$242

26borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$69,224 vs. $51,490

$17,734 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$77,950 median wageWA estimate · 1,400 jobs · 25-1121$62,030–$96,750 middle 50% of WA wages+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 8,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeGraphic Designers$72,710 median wageWA estimate · 3,960 jobs · 27-1024$57,390–$93,490 middle 50% of WA wages-1.7% projected U.S. growth · 16,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommercial and Industrial Designers$94,280 median wageWA estimate · 340 jobs · 27-1021$80,580–$127,570 middle 50% of WA 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 · 130 jobs · 27-1019+2.0% projected U.S. growth · 1,100 openings/yrTypical entry: No formal educational credentialDesigners, All Other$57,510 median wageWA estimate · 350 jobs · 27-1029$49,880–$80,000 middle 50% of WA wages+1.2% projected U.S. growth · 2,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSpecial Effects Artists and Animators$133,480 median wageWA estimate · 1,130 jobs · 27-1014$100,550–$174,990 middle 50% of WA wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 4,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWeb and Digital Interface Designers$130,480 median wageWA estimate · 11,580 jobs · 15-1255$75,570–$170,400 middle 50% of WA wages+6.0% projected U.S. growth · 8,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSet and Exhibit Designers$77,230 median wageWA estimate · 170 jobs · 27-1027$59,990–$129,280 middle 50% of WA wages+1.4% projected U.S. growth · 2,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeArt Directors$121,170 median wageWA estimate · 650 jobs · 27-1011$82,790–$157,140 middle 50% of WA wages+4.2% projected U.S. growth · 12,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFashion Designers$82,030 median wageWA estimate · 21,450 jobs · 27-1022$71,650–$100,250 middle 50% of WA wages+0.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeArchitecture Teachers, Postsecondary$81,950 median wageWA estimate · 100 jobs · 25-1031$63,280–$109,600 middle 50% of WA wages+2.6% projected U.S. growth · 700 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreePostsecondary Teachers, All Other$78,940 median wageWA estimate · 470 jobs · 25-1199$63,570–$101,560 middle 50% of WA wages+2.0% projected U.S. growth · 12,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degree

Possible alternatives