Best colleges for Design and Applied Arts in Texas
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Houston, The University of Texas at Austin and Texas State University are the top bachelor's Design and Applied Arts programs in Texas by graduate earnings. University of Houston leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,461, College Scorecard. Texas State University, University of North Texas and The University of Texas at Austin award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Texas: 185, 147 and 127 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 55 Texas colleges offer Design and Applied Arts and award 2,327 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 Houston Houston Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,461 | 44 | 65% | — | $27,000 |
| 2 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,506 | 127 | 89% | — | $22,500 |
| 3 | Texas State University San Marcos Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,396 | 185 | 55% | — | $24,353 |
| 4 | Sam Houston State University Huntsville Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,959 | 29 | 55% | — | $29,000 |
| 5 | Baylor University Waco Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,333 | 34 | 80% | $35,682 | $26,500 |
| 6 | University of North Texas Denton Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,867 | 147 | 61% | — | $22,288 |
| 7 | Saint Edward's University Austin Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $30,589 | 42 | 63% | $24,630 | $26,000 |
| 8 | University of the Incarnate Word San Antonio Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,986 | 76 | 51% | $21,745 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Abilene Christian University Abilene Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $38,553 | 11 | 59% | $26,342 | $21,875 |
| 10 | Lubbock Christian University Lubbock Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $29,479 | 8 | 51% | $25,162 | — |
Top 4 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 | Dallas College Dallas Public · Associate degree | $31,478 | 172 | 32% | — | $11,835 |
| 2 | Texas State Technical College Waco Public · Associate degree | $23,345 | 45 | 46% | — | $15,679 |
| 3 | Austin Community College District Austin Public · Associate degree | $40,289 | 150 | 20% | — | $19,939 |
| 4 | Collin County Community College District McKinney Public · Associate degree | $33,456 | 257 | 20% | — | $6,900 |
Colleges awarding the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Texas
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 | Texas State University San Marcos Public | 185 | $44,396 |
| 2 | University of North Texas Denton Public | 147 | $33,867 |
| 3 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin Public | 127 | $44,506 |
| 4 | University of the Incarnate Word San Antonio Private not-for-profit | 76 | $27,986 |
| 5 | Texas Christian University Fort Worth Private not-for-profit | 57 | Not reported |
| 6 | San Jacinto Community College Pasadena Public | 52 | Not reported |
| 7 | Texas Tech University Lubbock Public | 50 | Not reported |
| 8 | Wade College Dallas Private for-profit | 49 | Not reported |
| 9 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg Public | 49 | Not reported |
| 10 | University of Houston Houston Public | 44 | $47,461 |
ShowHide the other 45 Texas 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 Texas
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Design and Applied Arts programs in Texas.
Which Texas colleges award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees?+
Texas State University (185 graduates a year), University of North Texas (147 graduates a year) and The University of Texas at Austin (127 graduates a year) award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Texas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 55 Texas colleges offer Design and Applied Arts.
What is the best college for Design and Applied Arts in Texas?+
By graduate earnings, University of Houston leads among bachelor's Design and Applied Arts programs in Texas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,461, College Scorecard. The University of Texas at Austin and Texas State University follow. By degrees awarded, Texas State University is the largest, with 185 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Design and Applied Arts program in Texas has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Houston tops the list at $47,461. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Graphic Designers earn in Texas?+
The average annual wage for Graphic Designers in Texas is $62,570 (median $60,150), across about 13,670 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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