Best institutions to study Design and Applied Arts
Compare 1,080 U.S. colleges offering Design and Applied Arts by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 53 states.
Design and Applied Arts programs report a median of $32,240 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 50.04 and the Graphic Designers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Design and Applied Arts programs
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 blending creativity with functionality, preparing them for various roles in the design industry.
Students in this program acquire essential skills in design principles, visual communication, and the use of technology. Coursework covers areas such as graphic design, interior design, and fashion design, equipping learners with the knowledge needed to create effective and appealing designs.
Top 50 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gnomon North Hollywood, CA Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $80,221 | 23 | 100% | $44,138 | $38,000 |
| 2 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $66,274 | 39 | 94% | $23,803 | $24,500 |
| 3 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $64,846 | 85 | 92% | $26,873 | $18,262 |
| 4 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $63,449 | 42 | 85% | — | $12,250 |
| 5 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,615 | 62 | 93% | — | $20,000 |
| 6 | Miami Ad School - Atlanta Atlanta, GA Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $56,833 | 64 | — | $28,032 | — |
| 7 | Miami Ad School Miami, FL Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $56,833 | 60 | — | — | — |
| 8 | Interior Designers Institute Newport Beach, CA Private for-profit · Associate degree | $52,768 | 45 | — | — | $23,814 |
| 9 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,526 | 142 | 75% | — | $25,851 |
| 10 | Utah State University Logan, UT Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,431 | 41 | 59% | — | — |
| 11 | Wentworth Institute of Technology Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,599 | 51 | 68% | $32,713 | $27,000 |
| 12 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,780 | 140 | 90% | — | $20,875 |
| 13 | Northeastern University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $49,727 | 71 | 91% | $18,925 | $28,250 |
| 14 | Boston University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $49,254 | 72 | 89% | $21,956 | $21,250 |
| 15 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,144 | 39 | 86% | — | $22,250 |
| 16 | University of Houston Houston, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,461 | 44 | 65% | — | $27,000 |
| 17 | Suffolk University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,415 | 30 | 61% | $28,895 | $27,000 |
| 18 | Miami University - Oxford Oxford, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,295 | 20 | 80% | — | $26,000 |
| 19 | Art Center College of Design Pasadena, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,053 | 230 | 79% | $48,578 | $31,050 |
| 20 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,825 | 20 | 95% | $19,452 | $20,250 |
| 21 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,761 | 75 | 86% | — | $25,802 |
| 22 | Clemson University Clemson, SC Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,689 | 104 | 87% | — | $26,000 |
| 23 | Auburn University Auburn, AL Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,585 | 150 | 82% | — | $26,000 |
| 24 | Chapman University Orange, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,519 | 33 | 82% | $42,965 | $23,000 |
| 25 | Park University Parkville, MO Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,340 | 20 | 38% | $16,013 | $20,750 |
| 26 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,181 | 124 | 84% | $28,851 | $27,000 |
| 27 | Bellevue College Bellevue, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,947 | 61 | 36% | — | $33,660 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,572 | 20 | 53% | — | $27,000 |
| 29 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,176 | 51 | 88% | — | $25,100 |
| 30 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,930 | 86 | 85% | — | $20,500 |
| 31 | Washington State University Pullman, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,823 | 66 | 60% | — | $22,802 |
| 32 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,602 | 110 | 83% | — | $20,250 |
| 33 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,506 | 127 | 89% | — | $22,500 |
| 34 | Texas State University San Marcos, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,396 | 185 | 55% | — | $24,353 |
| 35 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,215 | 75 | 73% | — | $26,505 |
| 36 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KS Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,992 | 19 | 71% | — | — |
| 37 | Century College White Bear Lake, MN Public · Certificate degree | $43,778 | 91 | 31% | — | $15,000 |
| 38 | University of Dayton Dayton, OH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,609 | 29 | 80% | $28,560 | — |
| 39 | Temple University Philadelphia, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,530 | 10 | 75% | — | $26,875 |
| 40 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,324 | 41 | 86% | — | $26,000 |
| 41 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,324 | 2 | 34% | — | $26,000 |
| 42 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,144 | 80 | 91% | — | $19,839 |
| 43 | University of Central Arkansas Conway, AR Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,106 | 21 | 54% | — | — |
| 44 | University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OK Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,619 | 36 | 37% | — | $15,875 |
| 45 | University of Delaware Newark, DE Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,585 | 64 | 81% | — | $26,000 |
| 46 | Susquehanna University Selinsgrove, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,510 | 15 | 82% | $23,620 | $27,000 |
| 47 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,462 | 157 | 85% | — | $24,000 |
| 48 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KY Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,168 | 40 | 71% | — | $27,000 |
| 49 | North Dakota State University - Main Campus Fargo, ND Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,846 | 19 | 64% | — | $27,000 |
| 50 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,782 | 39 | 71% | — | $23,881 |
Offered across 53 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-1024, Graphic Designers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Design and Applied Arts program can pursue careers in various fields, including graphic design, industrial design, and commercial photography. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 2.1% and approximately 20,000 annual openings. The median wage for professionals in this field is $61,300, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Design and Applied Arts
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 50.04.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 50.04 (Design and Applied Arts) maps to 14 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 15-1255 | Web and Digital Interface Designers |
| 25-1031 | Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-1121 | Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-1199 | Postsecondary Teachers, All Other |
| 27-1011 | Art Directors |
| 27-1014 | Special Effects Artists and Animators |
| 27-1019 | Artists and Related Workers, All Other |
| 27-1021 | Commercial and Industrial Designers |
| 27-1022 | Fashion Designers |
| 27-1024 | Graphic Designersprimary |
| 27-1025 | Interior Designers |
| 27-1027 | Set and Exhibit Designers |
| 27-1029 | Designers, All Other |
| 27-4021 | Photographers |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Design and Applied Arts programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Key information into computer equipment to create layouts for client or supervisor.
- Review final layouts and suggest improvements, as needed.
- Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and size of type.
- Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Web sites.
- Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts, based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts.
- Use computer software to generate new images.
Concentrations within Design and Applied Arts
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Design and Visual Communications, GeneralCIP 50.0401
A program in the applied visual arts that focuses on the general principles and techniques for effectively communicating ideas and information, and packaging products, in digital and other formats to
- Commercial and Advertising ArtCIP 50.0402
A program in the applied visual arts that prepares individuals to use artistic techniques to effectively communicate ideas and information to business and consumer audiences via illustrations and othe
- Industrial and Product DesignCIP 50.0404
A program in the applied visual arts that prepares individuals to use artistic techniques to effectively communicate ideas and information to business and consumer audiences via the creation of effect
- Commercial PhotographyCIP 50.0406
A program in the applied visual arts that prepares individuals to use artistic techniques to effectively communicate ideas and information to business and consumer audiences, and recording events and
- Fashion/Apparel DesignCIP 50.0407
A program that prepares individuals to apply artistic principles and techniques to the professional design of commercial fashions, apparel, and accessories, and the management of fashion development p
- Interior DesignCIP 50.0408
A program in the applied visual arts that prepares individuals to apply artistic principles and techniques to the professional planning, designing, equipping, and furnishing of residential and commerc
- Graphic DesignCIP 50.0409
A program that prepares individuals to apply artistic and computer techniques to the interpretation of technical and commercial concepts
- IllustrationCIP 50.0410
A program that prepares individuals to use artistic techniques to develop and execute interpretations of the concepts of authors and designers to specifications
- Game and Interactive Media DesignCIP 50.0411
A program that focuses on the design, development, and programming of interactive media entertainment, including computer and video games, virtual environments, Internet applications, and other inter
- Design and Applied Arts, OtherCIP 50.0499
Any instructional program in design and applied arts not listed above.
Common questions
What types of specializations are available?+
Specializations include Design and Visual Communications, Commercial and Advertising Art, Industrial and Product Design, and more.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, writing, and various design techniques.
What is the typical educational requirement for careers in this field?+
Most careers in Design and Applied Arts require a Bachelor's degree.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 2.1% and around 20,000 annual openings.
How much do Design and Applied Arts graduates earn?+
Design and Applied Arts graduates report median earnings of $32,240 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Graphic Designers occupation pays about $70,560 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Design and Applied Arts?+
Design and Applied Arts maps to CIP 50.04 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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