Colorado · Design and Applied Arts

Best institutions to study Design and Applied Arts in Colorado

The Design and Applied Arts program focuses on the intersection of design and practical application, teaching students how to create aesthetically pleasing objects for everyday use. This program is ideal for individuals interested in…

Institutions
15
offering CIP 50.04
States & territories
53
with a program page
Degrees / yr
661
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
$31,104
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
5
College Scorecard
Median net price
$28,500
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
42%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Graphic Designers
$74,460
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 5 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver Public · Bachelor's degree
$39,4504632%$29,125
2Arapahoe Community College
Littleton Public · Associate degree
$32,1005729%$15,000
3University of Denver
Denver Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$31,1042176%$29,726
4Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design
Lakewood Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$29,82922632%$28,500$46,544
5Front Range Community College
Westminster Public · Certificate degree
$21,3978835%$11,000

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+2.1%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~20,000
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$61,300
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Active ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingWritingActive LearningReading Comprehension

What Graphic Designers earn in Colorado

Jobs in Colorado
4,200
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$74,460
median $66,330
Best-paying metro
$77,600
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO

Related careers

Graphic Designers
$74,460 avg · 4,200 jobs
Web and Digital Interface Designers
$107,680 avg · 3,250 jobs
Interior Designers
$86,940 avg · 2,300 jobs
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
$74,780 avg · 1,950 jobs
Photographers
$58,170 avg · 1,140 jobs
Art Directors
$112,040 avg · 720 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Design and Applied Arts programs in Colorado.

Which Design and Applied Arts program in Colorado has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Metropolitan State University of Denver tops the list at $39,450. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Graphic Designers earn in Colorado?+

The average annual wage for Graphic Designers in Colorado is $74,460 (median $66,330), across about 4,200 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Design and Applied Arts program?+

The Design and Applied Arts program focuses on the intersection of design and practical application, teaching students how to create aesthetically pleasing objects for everyday use. This program is ideal for individuals interested in…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop active listening, speaking, critical thinking, writing, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Graphic Designers?+

The national job outlook is about +2.1% growth with around 20,000 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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