Wisconsin · Design and Applied Arts

Best institutions to study Design and Applied Arts in Wisconsin

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
24
offering CIP 50.04
States & territories
53
with a program page
Degrees / yr
924
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
$36,920
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
16
College Scorecard
Median net price
$22,844
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
53%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Graphic Designers
$62,410
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

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

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison Public · Bachelor's degree
$49,78014090%$20,875
2University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
Stevens Point Public · Bachelor's degree
$41,2434451%$23,684
3University of Wisconsin - Stout
Menomonie Public · Bachelor's degree
$40,61517455%$27,000
4Waukesha County Technical College
Pewaukee Public · Associate degree
$39,0955444%$15,554
5Saint Norbert College
De Pere Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$37,856571%$23,319$27,000
6University of Wisconsin - Parkside
Kenosha Public · Bachelor's degree
$36,920240%$27,000
7Carthage College
Kenosha Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$35,5111364%$22,844$27,000
8University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Green Bay Public · Bachelor's degree
$32,9912748%$18,186
9Fox Valley Technical College
Appleton Public · Associate degree
$32,6732565%$16,582
10Madison Area Technical College
Madison Public · Associate degree
$30,7106229%$15,750

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 Wisconsin

Jobs in Wisconsin
4,130
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$62,410
median $59,900
Best-paying metro
$73,130
Kenosha, WI

Related careers

Graphic Designers
$62,410 avg · 4,130 jobs
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
$76,750 avg · 1,840 jobs
Interior Designers
$70,280 avg · 1,200 jobs
Web and Digital Interface Designers
$94,340 avg · 880 jobs
Photographers
$49,640 avg · 850 jobs

Common questions

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

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), University of Wisconsin - Madison tops the list at $49,780. Compare it against completions, 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.

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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