Tennessee · Design and Applied Arts

Best institutions to study Design and Applied Arts in Tennessee

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
23
offering CIP 50.04
States & territories
53
with a program page
Degrees / yr
425
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
$28,702
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
7
College Scorecard
Median net price
$24,187
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
53%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Graphic Designers
$62,670
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 7 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

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

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro Public · Bachelor's degree
$38,8071354%
2The University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Knoxville Public · Bachelor's degree
$36,0611574%
3East Tennessee State University
Johnson City Public · Bachelor's degree
$34,1773453%$19,250
4Belmont University
Nashville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$28,7026471%$29,246$27,000
5Nashville State Community College
Nashville Public · Associate degree
$27,412918%
6Nossi College of Art and Design
Nashville Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$24,4975442%$24,474$46,500
7Chattanooga State Community College
Chattanooga Public · Associate degree
$20,1654326%$11,681

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 Tennessee

Jobs in Tennessee
3,880
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$62,670
median $57,270
Best-paying metro
$65,970
Memphis, TN-MS-AR

Related careers

Graphic Designers
$62,670 avg · 3,880 jobs
Web and Digital Interface Designers
$66,090 avg · 3,610 jobs
Interior Designers
$68,480 avg · 1,530 jobs
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
$80,020 avg · 1,370 jobs
Art Directors
$108,720 avg · 930 jobs

Common questions

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

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Middle Tennessee State University tops the list at $38,807. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Graphic Designers earn in Tennessee?+

The average annual wage for Graphic Designers in Tennessee is $62,670 (median $57,270), across about 3,880 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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