Best colleges for Design and Applied Arts in Ohio
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Cincinnati, Miami University - Oxford and Ohio State University are the top bachelor's Design and Applied Arts programs in Ohio by graduate earnings. University of Cincinnati leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $52,526, College Scorecard. Kent State University at Kent, University of Cincinnati and Columbus College of Art & Design award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Ohio: 265, 142 and 118 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 43 Ohio colleges offer Design and Applied Arts and award 1,717 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…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, 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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,526 | 142 | 75% | — | $25,851 |
| 2 | Miami University - Oxford Oxford Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,295 | 20 | 80% | — | $26,000 |
| 3 | Ohio State University Columbus Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,176 | 51 | 88% | — | $25,100 |
| 4 | University of Dayton Dayton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,609 | 29 | 80% | $28,560 | — |
| 5 | Kent State University at Kent Kent Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,351 | 265 | 64% | — | $26,000 |
| 6 | Cedarville University Cedarville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,768 | 32 | 73% | $22,701 | $25,000 |
| 7 | Bowling Green State University Bowling Green Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,645 | 100 | 64% | — | $27,000 |
| 8 | Columbus College of Art & Design Columbus Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,970 | 118 | 56% | $30,330 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Ohio University Athens Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,716 | 32 | 65% | — | $26,791 |
| 10 | Cleveland Institute of Art Cleveland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $23,358 | 58 | 58% | $31,870 | $27,000 |
Top 2 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sinclair Community College Dayton Public · Associate degree | $24,490 | 126 | 41% | — | $11,000 |
| 2 | Cuyahoga Community College District Cleveland Public · Associate degree | $22,517 | 88 | 31% | — | $11,795 |
Colleges awarding the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Ohio
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kent State University at Kent Kent Public | 265 | $36,351 |
| 2 | University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Public | 142 | $52,526 |
| 3 | Columbus College of Art & Design Columbus Private not-for-profit | 118 | $27,970 |
| 4 | Bowling Green State University Bowling Green Public | 100 | $35,645 |
| 5 | The Modern College of Design Kettering Private for-profit | 84 | Not reported |
| 6 | Cleveland Institute of Art Cleveland Private not-for-profit | 58 | $23,358 |
| 7 | Ohio State University Columbus Public | 51 | $45,176 |
| 8 | Art Academy of Cincinnati Cincinnati Private not-for-profit | 34 | $20,921 |
| 9 | Cedarville University Cedarville Private not-for-profit | 32 | $35,768 |
| 10 | Ohio University Athens Public | 32 | $24,716 |
ShowHide the other 33 Ohio colleges offering Design and Applied Arts
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024).
Top skills
What Graphic Designers earn in Ohio
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Design and Applied Arts programs in Ohio.
Which Ohio colleges award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees?+
Kent State University at Kent (265 graduates a year), University of Cincinnati (142 graduates a year) and Columbus College of Art & Design (118 graduates a year) award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Ohio, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 43 Ohio colleges offer Design and Applied Arts.
What is the best college for Design and Applied Arts in Ohio?+
By graduate earnings, University of Cincinnati leads among bachelor's Design and Applied Arts programs in Ohio, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $52,526, College Scorecard. Miami University - Oxford and Ohio State University follow. By degrees awarded, Kent State University at Kent is the largest, with 265 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Design and Applied Arts program in Ohio has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Cincinnati tops the list at $52,526. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Graphic Designers earn in Ohio?+
The average annual wage for Graphic Designers in Ohio is $65,130 (median $60,080), across about 7,280 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.
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