Art and Design programs produce graduates with career earnings ranging from $24,505 to $114,862, demonstrating significant variation across 521 ranked programs. With median earnings of $59,526—$3,709 higher than the national average—these creative careers offer stronger financial prospects than commonly perceived, though program selection remains critical for maximizing outcomes.
Leading the list is Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus, achieving the highest program earnings at $74,666. Williams College follows at $72,010, while Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute rounds out the top three at $71,567, demonstrating how design programs at technical institutions consistently deliver superior graduate outcomes in competitive creative markets.
| Rank | School | Location | Earnings | Net Price | Acceptance Rate | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Atlanta, GA | $74,666 Median Art & Design Earnings | $7,491 | 16.5% | 92.3% | |
| #2 | Southfield, MI | $73,249 Median Art & Design Earnings | $31,328 | 80.3% | 62.6% | |
| #3 | Williams CollegePrivate | Williamstown, MA | $72,010 Median Art & Design Earnings | -$2,421 | 10.0% | 96.5% |
| #4 | Troy, NY | $71,567 Median Art & Design Earnings | $21,009 | 58.5% | 83.2% | |
| #5 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | Nashville, TN | $65,834 Median Art & Design Earnings | $5,797 | 6.3% | 92.7% |
| #6 | Stonehill CollegePrivate | Easton, MA | $62,675 Median Art & Design Earnings | $17,388 | 72.6% | 80.8% |
| #7 | Art Center College Of DesignPrivate | Pasadena, CA | $62,550 Median Art & Design Earnings | $42,545 | 75.0% | 82.6% |
| #8 | Wellesley CollegePrivate | Wellesley, MA | $62,358 Median Art & Design Earnings | $5,695 | 13.9% | 91.2% |
| #9 | Boston, MA | $61,703 Median Art & Design Earnings | $29,805 | 85.4% | 68.6% | |
| #10 | Marist CollegePrivate | Poughkeepsie, NY | $60,788 Median Art & Design Earnings | $25,331 | 64.7% | 79.8% |
| #11 | University Of Notre DamePrivate | Notre Dame, IN | $59,602 Median Art & Design Earnings | $8,873 | 12.4% | 96.8% |
| #12 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $59,525 Median Art & Design Earnings | $6,476 | 29.8% | 85.2% | |
| #13 | Northeastern UniversityPrivate | Boston, MA | $59,504 Median Art & Design Earnings | $5,900 | 5.7% | 90.4% |
| #14 | Endicott CollegePrivate | Beverly, MA | $58,604 Median Art & Design Earnings | $29,799 | 72.3% | 75.4% |
| #15 | Queens, NY | $58,056 Median Art & Design Earnings | $23,468 | 79.7% | 68.5% | |
| #16 | Fairfield UniversityPrivate | Fairfield, CT | $55,636 Median Art & Design Earnings | $32,161 | 45.0% | 83.8% |
| #17 | San Jose, CA | $55,592 Median Art & Design Earnings | $9,743 | 80.2% | 64.6% | |
| #18 | Kingsville, TX | $53,695 Median Art & Design Earnings | $8,028 | 92.3% | 45.6% | |
| #19 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | Ithaca, NY | $53,322 Median Art & Design Earnings | $4,079 | 8.2% | 95.1% |
| #20 | Seattle Pacific UniversityPrivate | Seattle, WA | $52,709 Median Art & Design Earnings | $19,348 | 91.1% | 62.2% |
