Louisiana · Design and Applied Arts

Best colleges for Design and Applied Arts in Louisiana

Ranked by graduate earnings

Tulane University of Louisiana, Louisiana Tech University and Loyola University New Orleans award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees and certificates in Louisiana: 41, 36 and 17 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 10 Louisiana colleges offer Design and Applied Arts and award 165 degrees and certificates a year in all.

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
10
offering CIP 50.04
States & territories
53
with a program page
Degrees / yr
165
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$29,146
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
3
College Scorecard
Median net price
$22,906
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
48%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Graphic Designers
$54,850
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 3 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Louisiana Tech University
Ruston Public · Bachelor's degree
$29,1463664%—$21,513
2Delgado Community College
New Orleans Public · Associate degree Small program
$30,2481624%—$19,500
3University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Lafayette Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$28,206953%—$20,416

Colleges awarding the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Louisiana

Top 8 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Tulane University of Louisiana
New Orleans Private not-for-profit
41Not reported
2Louisiana Tech University
Ruston Public
36$29,146
3Loyola University New Orleans
New Orleans Private not-for-profit
17Not reported
4SOWELA Technical Community College
Lake Charles Public
14Not reported
5Baton Rouge Community College
Baton Rouge Public
11Not reported
6University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Lafayette Public
9$28,206
7Louisiana Christian University
Pineville Private not-for-profit
4Not reported
8Delta College of Arts & Technology
Baton Rouge Private for-profit
4Not reported
Show the other 2 Louisiana colleges offering Design and Applied Arts
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Delgado Community CollegeNew OrleansPublic16
Bossier Parish Community CollegeBossier CityPublic13

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 Louisiana

Jobs in Louisiana
1,750
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$54,850
median $49,910
Best-paying metro
$58,650
New Orleans-Metairie, LA

Related careers

Graphic Designers
$54,850 avg · 1,750 jobs
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
$92,510 avg · 720 jobs
Photographers
$43,530 avg · 510 jobs
Interior Designers
$59,410 avg · 350 jobs
Designers, All Other
$65,340 avg · 250 jobs

Common questions

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

Which Louisiana colleges award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees?+

Tulane University of Louisiana (41 graduates a year), Louisiana Tech University (36 graduates a year) and Loyola University New Orleans (17 graduates a year) award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees and certificates in Louisiana, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 10 Louisiana colleges offer Design and Applied Arts.

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Louisiana Tech University tops the list at $29,146. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Graphic Designers earn in Louisiana?+

The average annual wage for Graphic Designers in Louisiana is $54,850 (median $49,910), across about 1,750 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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