# Design and Applied Arts

> A program in the applied visual arts that focuses on the general principles and techniques for effectively communicating ideas and information, and packaging products, in digital and other formats to business and consumer audiences, and that may prepare individuals in any of the applied art media.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/design-and-applied-arts
- CIP code: 50.04 (Visual and Performing Arts)
- Colleges offering it: 652 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 459 | $35,416 | $39,933 | $10,625 |
| Associate's | 472 | $33,587 | $37,689 | $12,899 |
| Bachelor's | 652 | $39,331 | $52,727 | $23,995 |
| Master's | 134 | $54,566 | $69,957 | $55,406 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 6 | $65,830 | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 44 | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Pittsburgh, PA | $138,588 | $21,000 |
| [Lawrence Technological University-Michigan](https://www.collegesref.com/college/lawrence-technological-university-michigan-1459) | Southfield, MI | $99,444 | $27,000 |
| [University of Washington-Seattle](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-washington-seattle-main-campus-3075) | Seattle, WA | $89,193 | $15,000 |
| [University of Southern California](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-southern-california-usc-3050) | Los Angeles, CA | $89,022 | $18,250 |
| [Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rensselaer-polytechnic-institute-rpi-2221) | Troy, NY | $87,358 | $25,500 |
| [Northeastern University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northeastern-university-1923) | Boston, MA | $87,336 | $19,500 |
| [University of Notre Dame-South Bend](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-notre-dame-south-bend-in-3005) | Notre Dame, IN | $83,414 | $19,750 |
| [Chapman University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/chapman-university-510) | Orange, CA | $78,121 | $16,000 |
| [Art Center College of Design](https://www.collegesref.com/college/art-center-college-of-design-115) | Pasadena, CA | $76,093 | $26,875 |
| [University of Redlands](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-redlands-3024) | Redlands, CA | $75,374 | $27,000 |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Art Directors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/art-directors): $114,850 median pay
- [Video Game Designers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/video-game-designers): $104,000 median pay
- [Web and Digital Interface Designers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/web-and-digital-interface-designers): $104,000 median pay
- [Special Effects Artists and Animators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/special-effects-artists-and-animators): $102,030 median pay
- [Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/architecture-teachers-postsecondary): $96,870 median pay
- [Commercial and Industrial Designers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/commercial-and-industrial-designers): $83,910 median pay
- [Fashion Designers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/fashion-designers): $80,960 median pay
- [Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/art-drama-and-music-teachers-postsecondary): $78,620 median pay
- [Postsecondary Teachers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/postsecondary-teachers-all-other): $77,640 median pay
- [Set and Exhibit Designers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/set-and-exhibit-designers): $75,240 median pay
- [Artists and Related Workers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/artists-and-related-workers-all-other): $71,240 median pay
- [Interior Designers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/interior-designers): $67,190 median pay
- [Designers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/designers-all-other): $64,950 median pay
- [Graphic Designers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/graphic-designers): $62,960 median pay
- [Photographers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/photographers): $44,660 median pay

## More in Visual and Performing Arts

- [Music](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/music): 1,058 colleges
- [Fine and Studio Arts](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/fine-and-studio-arts): 1,052 colleges
- [Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/drama-theatre-arts-and-stagecraft): 862 colleges
- [Film/Video and Photographic Arts](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/film-video-and-photographic-arts): 427 colleges
- [Visual and Performing Arts, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/visual-and-performing-arts-general): 298 colleges
- [Dance](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/dance): 278 colleges
- [Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/arts-entertainment-and-media-management): 230 colleges
- [Visual and Performing Arts, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/visual-and-performing-arts-other): 62 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/