Best colleges for Design and Applied Arts in Wisconsin
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and University of Wisconsin-Stout are the top bachelor's Design and Applied Arts programs in Wisconsin by graduate earnings. University of Wisconsin-Madison leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $49,780, College Scorecard. University of Wisconsin-Stout, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Wisconsin: 174, 140 and 127 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 24 Wisconsin colleges offer Design and Applied Arts and award 924 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 9 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 Wisconsin-Madison Madison Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,780 | 140 | 90% | — | $20,875 |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Stevens Point Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,243 | 44 | 51% | — | $23,684 |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin-Stout Menomonie Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,615 | 174 | 55% | — | $27,000 |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Green Bay Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,991 | 27 | 48% | — | $18,186 |
| 5 | Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design Milwaukee Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $28,801 | 127 | 67% | $26,078 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Saint Norbert College De Pere Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $37,856 | 5 | 71% | $23,319 | $27,000 |
| 7 | University of Wisconsin-Parkside Kenosha Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $36,920 | 2 | 40% | — | $27,000 |
| 8 | Carthage College Kenosha Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,511 | 13 | 64% | $22,844 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Mount Mary University Milwaukee Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $30,053 | 9 | 43% | $18,836 | $26,500 |
Top 7 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 | Waukesha County Technical College Pewaukee Public · Associate degree | $39,095 | 54 | 44% | — | $15,554 |
| 2 | Fox Valley Technical College Appleton Public · Associate degree | $32,673 | 25 | 65% | — | $16,582 |
| 3 | Gateway Technical College Kenosha Public · Associate degree | $29,734 | 30 | 51% | — | $15,500 |
| 4 | Western Technical College La Crosse Public · Associate degree | $23,032 | 52 | 34% | — | $12,057 |
| 5 | Madison Area Technical College Madison Public · Associate degree | $30,710 | 62 | 29% | — | $15,750 |
| 6 | Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee Public · Associate degree | $27,795 | 56 | 25% | — | — |
| 7 | Moraine Park Technical College Fond du Lac Public · Associate degree Small program | $21,388 | 16 | 58% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Wisconsin
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 | University of Wisconsin-Stout Menomonie Public | 174 | $40,615 |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison Public | 140 | $49,780 |
| 3 | Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design Milwaukee Private not-for-profit | 127 | $28,801 |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Stevens Point Public | 44 | $41,243 |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee Public | 31 | Not reported |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Green Bay Public | 27 | $32,991 |
| 7 | Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire Public | 23 | Not reported |
| 8 | Carthage College Kenosha Private not-for-profit | 13 | $35,511 |
| 9 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Green Bay Public | 13 | Not reported |
| 10 | Carroll University Waukesha Private not-for-profit | 10 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 14 Wisconsin colleges offering Design and Applied Arts
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison Area Technical College | Madison | Public | 62 |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College | Milwaukee | Public | 56 |
| Waukesha County Technical College | Pewaukee | Public | 54 |
| Western Technical College | La Crosse | Public | 52 |
| Gateway Technical College | Kenosha | Public | 30 |
| Fox Valley Technical College | Appleton | Public | 25 |
| Moraine Park Technical College | Fond du Lac | Public | 16 |
| Mount Mary University | Milwaukee | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Concordia University - Wisconsin | Mequon | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Saint Norbert College | De Pere | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Edgewood University | Madison | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Lakeland University | Plymouth | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| University of Wisconsin-Parkside | Kenosha | Public | 2 |
| Marian University | Fond Du Lac | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024).
Top skills
What Graphic Designers earn in Wisconsin
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Design and Applied Arts programs in Wisconsin.
Which Wisconsin colleges award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees?+
University of Wisconsin-Stout (174 graduates a year), University of Wisconsin-Madison (140 graduates a year) and Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (127 graduates a year) award the most Design and Applied Arts degrees in Wisconsin, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 24 Wisconsin colleges offer Design and Applied Arts.
What is the best college for Design and Applied Arts in Wisconsin?+
By graduate earnings, University of Wisconsin-Madison leads among bachelor's Design and Applied Arts programs in Wisconsin, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $49,780, College Scorecard. University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and University of Wisconsin-Stout follow. By degrees awarded, University of Wisconsin-Stout is the largest, with 174 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Design and Applied Arts program in Wisconsin has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Wisconsin-Madison tops the list at $49,780. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Graphic Designers earn in Wisconsin?+
The average annual wage for Graphic Designers in Wisconsin is $62,410 (median $59,900), across about 4,130 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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