Best Colleges for Design and Applied Arts

Design and Applied Arts graduates enter a creative field where visual communication and practical problem-solving intersect. With an average starting salary of $34,774, professionals in this field work across industries from advertising to product development. When evaluating programs, students should prioritize hands-on studio experience, access to industry-standard software and equipment, and strong portfolio development opportunities. Look for curricula that balance creative exploration with technical skills in areas like graphic design, digital media, and user experience. Faculty with active professional practices can provide valuable industry connections. Among the 304 schools offering this major, the best programs emphasize both artistic vision and marketable skills that prepare graduates for today's design landscape.

Schools Ranked

$51,383

Avg. Program Earnings

79.0%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Median Earnings	Graduation Rate	School Type
1	Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	$89,859	92.5%	private-nonprofit
2	Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts	$59,124	90.4%	private-nonprofit
3	University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, Washington	$57,318	83.7%	public
4	The University of Texas at Austin Austin, Texas	$55,151	87.6%	public
5	San Jose State University San Jose, California	$52,524	64.7%	public
6	University of California-Irvine Irvine, California	$52,107	86.0%	public
7	Chapman University Orange, California	$52,107	80.4%	private-nonprofit
8	State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz, New York	$51,273	68.9%	public
9	Art Center College of Design Pasadena, California	$50,856	82.6%	private-nonprofit
10	University of Florida Gainesville, Florida	$50,060	91.5%	public
11	Wentworth Institute of Technology Boston, Massachusetts	$49,939	68.6%	private-nonprofit
12	California Institute of the Arts Valencia, California	$49,840	64.2%	private-nonprofit
13	Lake Washington Institute of Technology Kirkland, Washington	$49,729	39.8%	public
14	Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, Georgia	$49,527	92.3%	public
15	Marist College Poughkeepsie, New York	$49,270	79.8%	private-nonprofit
16	Lawrence Technological University Southfield, Michigan	$48,432	62.6%	private-nonprofit
17	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, Virginia	$48,198	86.3%	public
18	University of Delaware Newark, Delaware	$47,260	78.8%	public
19	Texas Christian University Fort Worth, Texas	$46,966	85.6%	private-nonprofit
20	George Washington University Washington, District of Columbia	$46,321	85.2%	private-nonprofit
21	Western Washington University Bellingham, Washington	$46,087	65.5%	public
22	University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, Wisconsin	$45,919	89.3%	public
23	Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, Ohio	$45,794	87.7%	public
24	Drexel University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	$45,477	77.1%	private-nonprofit
25	Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida	$45,435	83.0%	public