Skip to main content
CollegeDebt

Is Design and Applied Arts Worth It?

National view of Design and Applied Arts across 349 schools. Average ROI Score: 44/100.

Avg Debt
$28K
Avg Year 1 Earnings
$42K
Avg Year 5 Earnings
$57K
Best School
Brigham Young University-Hawaii

Debt vs Earnings by School

Design and Applied Arts by School

SchoolStateMedian DebtYear 1 EarningsYear 5 EarningsROI GradeVerdict
Brigham Young University-HawaiiHI$8K$42K$57KCBUY
Tulane University of LouisianaLA$11K$42K$57KCBUY
Dominican University of CaliforniaCA$14K$42K$57KCCAUTION
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-BarranquitasPR$15K$42K$57KCCAUTION
Judson UniversityIL$15K$42K$57KCCAUTION
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-BayamonPR$16K$42K$57KCCAUTION
University of Puerto Rico-CarolinaPR$15K$42K$57KCCAUTION
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-San GermanPR$17K$42K$57KCCAUTION
California College of ASUCA$17K$42K$57KCCAUTION
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-AguadillaPR$18K$42K$57KCCAUTION
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-FajardoPR$18K$42K$57KCCAUTION
William Peace UniversityNC$18K$42K$57KCCAUTION
Interior Designers InstituteCA$20K$42K$57KCCAUTION
North Central CollegeIL$20K$42K$57KCCAUTION
California State University-Monterey BayCA$21K$42K$57KCCAUTION
Carnegie Mellon UniversityPA$21K$42K$57KCCAUTION
Southern Arkansas University Main CampusAR$21K$42K$57KCCAUTION
Troy UniversityAL$20K$42K$57KCCAUTION
Huntington UniversityIN$21K$42K$57KCCAUTION
Nossi College of Art and DesignTN$21K$42K$57KCCAUTION
Ouachita Baptist UniversityAR$21K$42K$57KCCAUTION
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo CampusPR$22K$42K$57KCCAUTION
CUNY New York City College of TechnologyNY$23K$42K$57KCCAUTION
Universidad Politecnica de Puerto RicoPR$22K$42K$57KCCAUTION
University of California-DavisCA$22K$42K$57KCCAUTION
California State University-ChicoCA$23K$42K$57KDCAUTION
CUNY Queens CollegeNY$23K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Montana State University-NorthernMT$24K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Northern State UniversitySD$24K$42K$57KDCAUTION
University of California-Santa CruzCA$24K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Bethany Lutheran CollegeMN$25K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Colorado Mesa UniversityCO$25K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Hampshire CollegeMA$24K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Thomas Jefferson UniversityPA$24K$42K$57KDCAUTION
West Virginia UniversityWV$25K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Western Washington UniversityWA$25K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Adrian CollegeMI$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Appalachian State UniversityNC$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Black Hills State UniversitySD$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Bob Jones UniversitySC$25K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Drury UniversityMO$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Elizabeth City State UniversityNC$25K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto RicoPR$25K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Eureka CollegeIL$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Farmingdale State CollegeNY$25K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Georgia Southern UniversityGA$25K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main CampusPA$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Iowa State UniversityIA$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Juniata CollegePA$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Lehigh UniversityPA$25K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Missouri Western State UniversityMO$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Oklahoma Baptist UniversityOK$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Oklahoma Christian UniversityOK$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AltoonaPA$25K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteNY$25K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Rochester Institute of TechnologyNY$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Saginaw Valley State UniversityMI$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Salem CollegeNC$25K$42K$57KDCAUTION
St. Thomas Aquinas CollegeNY$25K$42K$57KDCAUTION
SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at CobleskillNY$25K$42K$57KDCAUTION
SUNY OneontaNY$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Taylor UniversityIN$25K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Union Adventist UniversityNE$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
University of Minnesota-DuluthMN$25K$42K$57KDCAUTION
University of Northern IowaIA$25K$42K$57KDCAUTION
University of the Incarnate WordTX$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
University of Wisconsin-StoutWI$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Washington University in St LouisMO$25K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Albright CollegePA$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Anderson UniversitySC$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Auburn UniversityAL$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Bellevue CollegeWA$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Belmont UniversityTN$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Bethany CollegeKS$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Carson-Newman UniversityTN$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Cedarville UniversityOH$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Central Washington UniversityWA$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Dallas Baptist UniversityTX$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
DePaul UniversityIL$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Dominican UniversityIL$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Edgewood CollegeWI$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-PrescottAZ$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Emmanuel CollegeMA$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham CampusNJ$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Gardner-Webb UniversityNC$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Husson UniversityME$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
John Brown UniversityAR$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Kean UniversityNJ$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Keene State CollegeNH$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Luther CollegeIA$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Massachusetts College of Art and DesignMA$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
McPherson CollegeKS$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Montclair State UniversityNJ$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Northwestern CollegeIA$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Ohio Dominican UniversityOH$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Peru State CollegeNE$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Radford UniversityVA$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Robert Morris UniversityPA$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Roger Williams UniversityRI$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Saint Edward's UniversityTX$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Samford UniversityAL$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
San Jose State UniversityCA$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Savannah College of Art and DesignGA$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
State University of New York at New PaltzNY$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Stonehill CollegeMA$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
SUNY at FredoniaNY$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
SUNY at Purchase CollegeNY$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
SUNY Buffalo State UniversityNY$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Syracuse UniversityNY$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Tabor CollegeKS$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
The New SchoolNY$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Trinity International University-IllinoisIL$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
University of Arkansas-Fort SmithAR$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
University of Central MissouriMO$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
University of Maryland Eastern ShoreMD$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
University of Northwestern-St PaulMN$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Wentworth Institute of TechnologyMA$26K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Worcester Polytechnic InstituteMA$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Allegheny CollegePA$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Arcadia UniversityPA$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Arizona State University Campus ImmersionAZ$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Bethel UniversityMN$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Boise State UniversityID$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Bradley UniversityIL$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Caldwell UniversityNJ$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
California State Polytechnic University-PomonaCA$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Centenary UniversityNJ$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Central Connecticut State UniversityCT$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Charleston Southern UniversitySC$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Cleveland Institute of ArtOH$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Coastal Carolina UniversitySC$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
College for Creative StudiesMI$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Columbia College ChicagoIL$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Columbus College of Art & DesignOH$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Converse UniversitySC$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Drexel UniversityPA$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Elizabethtown CollegePA$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Fashion Institute of TechnologyNY$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Fitchburg State UniversityMA$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Flagler CollegeFL$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical UniversityFL$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Grace College and Theological SeminaryIN$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Grand View UniversityIA$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Hannibal-LaGrange UniversityMO$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Harrisburg University of Science and TechnologyPA$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Kansas City Art InstituteMO$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Kent State University at KentOH$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaPA$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
La Sierra UniversityCA$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Lipscomb UniversityTN$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Longwood UniversityVA$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Loyola University New OrleansLA$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Marist CollegeNY$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Maryland Institute College of ArtMD$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Marymount Manhattan CollegeNY$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Marywood UniversityPA$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Mercyhurst UniversityPA$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Meredith CollegeNC$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Methodist UniversityNC$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Minneapolis College of Art and DesignMN$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Minnesota State University MoorheadMN$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Morningside UniversityIA$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Nazareth UniversityNY$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Oakland UniversityMI$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Oklahoma State University-Main CampusOK$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Pennsylvania College of TechnologyPA$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Pratt Institute-MainNY$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Quinnipiac UniversityCT$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Rider UniversityNJ$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Russell Sage CollegeNY$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Saint Joseph's College of MaineME$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Saint Norbert CollegeWI$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Schreiner UniversityTX$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Seattle Pacific UniversityWA$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Seminole State College of FloridaFL$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
South Dakota State UniversitySD$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Stevenson UniversityMD$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Suffolk UniversityMA$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Susquehanna UniversityPA$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
The University of TampaFL$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
University of Cincinnati-Main CampusOH$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
University of HartfordCT$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
University of JamestownND$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
University of Massachusetts-DartmouthMA$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
University of San FranciscoCA$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVA$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Wartburg CollegeIA$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Whittier CollegeCA$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
York College of PennsylvaniaPA$27K$42K$57KDCAUTION
American Academy of Art CollegeIL$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Art Center College of DesignCA$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Assumption UniversityMA$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Augsburg UniversityMN$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Bellarmine UniversityKY$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Bemidji State UniversityMN$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Bluffton UniversityOH$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Cabrini UniversityPA$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
California Institute of the ArtsCA$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Chapman UniversityCA$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Cheyney University of PennsylvaniaPA$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Clarke UniversityIA$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Coker UniversitySC$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Colby-Sawyer CollegeNH$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Cornish College of the ArtsWA$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Curry CollegeMA$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Defiance CollegeOH$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Elmhurst UniversityIL$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Ferris State UniversityMI$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & MerchandisingCA$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
George Fox UniversityOR$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
High Point UniversityNC$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Highline CollegeWA$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Laguna College of Art and DesignCA$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Lasell UniversityMA$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Lawrence Technological UniversityMI$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Lesley UniversityMA$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Lindenwood UniversityMO$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Maine College of Art & DesignME$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
McMurry UniversityTX$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Milligan UniversityTN$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Mississippi CollegeMS$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Monmouth UniversityNJ$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
New Jersey Institute of TechnologyNJ$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
New York School of Interior DesignNY$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Notre Dame CollegeOH$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Pacific Northwest College of ArtOR$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Paier CollegeCT$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Rhode Island School of DesignRI$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
San Francisco State UniversityCA$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
School of Visual ArtsNY$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Seattle UniversityWA$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Seton Hill UniversityPA$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Spring Hill CollegeAL$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
SUNY College of Technology at CantonNY$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Trinity Christian CollegeIL$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
University of IndianapolisIN$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
University of New HavenCT$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
University of Saint Francis-Fort WayneIN$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Villa Maria CollegeNY$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Webster UniversityMO$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
West Virginia Wesleyan CollegeWV$28K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Winthrop UniversitySC$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Arkansas Tech UniversityAR$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Champlain CollegeVT$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Clark Atlanta UniversityGA$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Concordia University-IrvineCA$30K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Daemen UniversityNY$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Dunwoody College of TechnologyMN$30K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Lakeland UniversityWI$30K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Los Angeles Film SchoolCA$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Madonna UniversityMI$30K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Marymount UniversityVA$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Maryville University of Saint LouisMO$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Milwaukee Institute of Art & DesignWI$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Montserrat College of ArtMA$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Moore College of Art and DesignPA$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Otis College of Art and DesignCA$30K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Park UniversityMO$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Pennsylvania College of Art and DesignPA$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Point Park UniversityPA$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Ringling College of Art and DesignFL$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Southern New Hampshire UniversityNH$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Sullivan UniversityKY$30K$42K$57KDCAUTION
The King's UniversityTX$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
University of Silicon ValleyCA$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
University of the ArtsPA$30K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Ursuline CollegeOH$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Walla Walla UniversityWA$29K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Alverno CollegeWI$30K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Azusa Pacific UniversityCA$31K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Bay Path UniversityMA$31K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Brescia UniversityKY$31K$42K$57KDCAUTION
California Baptist UniversityCA$31K$42K$57KDCAUTION
California College of the ArtsCA$31K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Central Michigan UniversityMI$30K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Clover Park Technical CollegeWA$31K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Concord UniversityWV$31K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Culver-Stockton CollegeMO$31K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Liberty UniversityVA$30K$42K$57KDCAUTION
LIM CollegeNY$31K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine ArtsPA$31K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Point Loma Nazarene UniversityCA$30K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Portland State UniversityOR$30K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Queens University of CharlotteNC$30K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Southeastern UniversityFL$30K$42K$57KDCAUTION
University of BridgeportCT$30K$42K$57KDCAUTION
University of Central OklahomaOK$31K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Academy of Art UniversityCA$31K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Anna Maria CollegeMA$32K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Chaminade University of HonoluluHI$32K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Eastern Michigan UniversityMI$32K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Great Basin CollegeNV$32K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Kentucky Wesleyan CollegeKY$32K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Lake Washington Institute of TechnologyWA$31K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Stephens CollegeMO$32K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Wayland Baptist UniversityTX$31K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Belhaven UniversityMS$32K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Cairn University-LanghornePA$33K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Cornerstone UniversityMI$33K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Drury University-College of Continuing Professional StudiesMO$33K$42K$57KDCAUTION
University of Advancing TechnologyAZ$33K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Woodbury UniversityCA$33K$42K$57KDCAUTION
Concordia University-Saint PaulMN$34K$42K$57KDAVOID
Mount Mary UniversityWI$33K$42K$57KDAVOID
Pacific Union CollegeCA$33K$42K$57KDAVOID
University of RedlandsCA$33K$42K$57KDAVOID
Utah Valley UniversityUT$32K$42K$57KDAVOID
Wilson CollegePA$33K$42K$57KDAVOID
American InterContinental University-AtlantaGA$34K$42K$57KDAVOID
Aurora UniversityIL$35K$42K$57KDAVOID
Christian Brothers UniversityTN$35K$42K$57KDAVOID
New England Institute of TechnologyRI$34K$42K$57KDAVOID
Stevens-The Institute of Business & ArtsMO$34K$42K$57KDAVOID
Young Harris CollegeGA$34K$42K$57KDAVOID
Benedictine CollegeKS$35K$42K$57KDAVOID
Berkeley College-Woodland ParkNJ$35K$42K$57KDAVOID
Brenau UniversityGA$35K$42K$57KDAVOID
EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc-San JuanPR$35K$42K$57KDAVOID
Northwest College of Art & DesignWA$35K$42K$57KDAVOID
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods CollegeIN$35K$42K$57KDAVOID
West Liberty UniversityWV$36K$42K$57KDAVOID
Mount St. Joseph UniversityOH$36K$42K$57KDAVOID
New York Film AcademyCA$37K$42K$57KDAVOID
Newschool of Architecture and DesignCA$36K$42K$57KDAVOID
Otterbein UniversityOH$36K$42K$57KDAVOID
Rasmussen University-KansasKS$36K$42K$57KDAVOID
Rasmussen University-MinnesotaMN$36K$42K$57KDAVOID
Sessions College for Professional DesignAZ$36K$42K$57KDAVOID
The Modern College of DesignOH$36K$42K$57KDAVOID
Walsh UniversityOH$37K$42K$57KDAVOID
Bethel UniversityIN$37K$42K$57KDAVOID
Chowan UniversityNC$38K$42K$57KDAVOID
Bellevue UniversityNE$38K$42K$57KFAVOID
Rasmussen University-FloridaFL$38K$42K$57KFAVOID
NUC UniversityPR$39K$42K$57KFAVOID
Platt College-OntarioCA$39K$42K$57KFAVOID
Upper Iowa UniversityIA$39K$42K$57KFAVOID
Pfeiffer UniversityNC$40K$42K$57KFAVOID
Rocky Mountain College of Art and DesignCO$41K$42K$57KFAVOID
The University of OlivetMI$40K$42K$57KFAVOID
Lubbock Christian UniversityTX$42K$42K$57KFAVOID
Endicott CollegeMA$42K$42K$57KFAVOID
Full Sail UniversityFL$43K$42K$57KFAVOID
Design Institute of San DiegoCA$43K$42K$57KFAVOID
New England CollegeNH$43K$42K$57KFAVOID
Wade CollegeTX$47K$42K$57KFAVOID
Art Academy of CincinnatiOH$48K$42K$57KFAVOID
Beverly Hills Design InstituteCA$49K$42K$57KFAVOID
Bowie State UniversityMD$50K$42K$57KFAVOID