Best colleges for Design and Applied Arts in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania College of Technology and Pennsylvania State University are the top bachelor's Design and Applied Arts programs in Pennsylvania by graduate earnings. Carnegie Mellon University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $66,274, College Scorecard. Drexel University, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and Moore College of Art and Design award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Pennsylvania: 150, 64 and 61 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 52 Pennsylvania colleges offer Design and Applied Arts and award 1,036 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 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $66,274 | 39 | 94% | $23,803 | $24,500 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,572 | 20 | 53% | — | $27,000 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,324 | 41 | 86% | — | $26,000 |
| 4 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,286 | 64 | 54% | — | $27,000 |
| 5 | Drexel University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,154 | 150 | 78% | $36,004 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,433 | 44 | 69% | $26,034 | $27,000 |
| 7 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,981 | 36 | 56% | — | $27,000 |
| 8 | Albright College Reading Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,793 | 28 | 51% | $21,906 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Lancaster Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $25,830 | 32 | 69% | $29,257 | $27,000 |
| 10 | Marywood University Scranton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $25,727 | 27 | 72% | $21,769 | $27,362 |
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 | Lehigh Carbon Community College Schnecksville Public · Associate degree | $27,896 | 30 | 30% | — | — |
| 2 | Northampton County Area Community College Bethlehem Public · Associate degree | $19,022 | 34 | 24% | — | $15,250 |
Colleges awarding the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Pennsylvania
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 | Drexel University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 150 | $38,154 |
| 2 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown Public | 64 | $40,286 |
| 3 | Moore College of Art and Design Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 61 | $20,587 |
| 4 | Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 44 | $36,433 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public | 41 | $43,324 |
| 6 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit | 39 | $66,274 |
| 7 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana Public | 36 | $34,981 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Lancaster Private not-for-profit | 32 | $25,830 |
| 9 | Albright College Reading Private not-for-profit | 28 | $29,793 |
| 10 | Lehigh University Bethlehem Private not-for-profit | 27 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 42 Pennsylvania colleges offering Design and Applied Arts
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northampton County Area Community College | Bethlehem | Public | 34 |
| Community College of Allegheny County | Pittsburgh | Public | 33 |
| Harrisburg Area Community College | Harrisburg | Public | 33 |
| Lehigh Carbon Community College | Schnecksville | Public | 30 |
| Marywood University | Scranton | Private not-for-profit | 27 |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania | Millersville | Public | 23 |
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 22 |
| Harrisburg University of Science and Technology | Harrisburg | Private not-for-profit | 22 |
| Pennsylvania Western University | California | Public | 22 |
| Pennsylvania College of Technology | Williamsport | Public | 20 |
| Delaware County Community College | Media | Public | 18 |
| Arcadia University | Glenside | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| York College of Pennsylvania | York | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Bucks County Community College | Newtown | Public | 15 |
| Susquehanna University | Selinsgrove | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Juniata College | Huntingdon | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| La Roche University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Mercyhurst University | Erie | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | East Stroudsburg | Public | 11 |
| Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | Shippensburg | Public | 11 |
| Temple University | Philadelphia | Public | 10 |
| Grove City College | Grove City | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Luzerne County Community College | Nanticoke | Public | 9 |
| Point Park University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Harcum College | Bryn Mawr | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Robert Morris University | Moon Township | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| South Hills School of Business & Technology | State College | Private for-profit | 7 |
| Westmoreland County Community College | Youngwood | Public | 6 |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania | Bloomsburg | Public | 6 |
| Allegheny College | Meadville | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Elizabethtown College | Elizabethtown | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Messiah University | Mechanicsburg | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Seton Hill University | Greensburg | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Wilson College | Chambersburg | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Cairn University - Langhorne | Langhorne | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Geneva College | Beaver Falls | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Waynesburg University | Waynesburg | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Pennsylvania State University - World Campus (Online) | University Park | Public | 2 |
| Holy Family University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Ursinus College | Collegeville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Indiana County Technology Center | Indiana | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024).
Top skills
What Graphic Designers earn in Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Design and Applied Arts programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees?+
Drexel University (150 graduates a year), Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (64 graduates a year) and Moore College of Art and Design (61 graduates a year) award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 52 Pennsylvania colleges offer Design and Applied Arts.
What is the best college for Design and Applied Arts in Pennsylvania?+
By graduate earnings, Carnegie Mellon University leads among bachelor's Design and Applied Arts programs in Pennsylvania, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $66,274, College Scorecard. Pennsylvania College of Technology and Pennsylvania State University follow. By degrees awarded, Drexel University is the largest, with 150 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Design and Applied Arts program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Carnegie Mellon University tops the list at $66,274. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Graphic Designers earn in Pennsylvania?+
The average annual wage for Graphic Designers in Pennsylvania is $66,620 (median $60,730), across about 8,150 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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