Best Art & Design Colleges in Indiana (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 22 Art & Design programs in Indiana by the median earnings of Art & Design graduates four years after completing, highest first. University of Notre Dame leads the list with median earnings of $70,286 for its graduates after completing.
Across the 15 schools with a reported completion median, earnings range from $70,286 to $15,922, with a median of $39,430. For 6 of the 22 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
The list includes 9 public and 13 private nonprofit institutions. Purdue University-Main Campus ranks 87th on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally.
Indiana University-Northwest posts the lowest average net price at $5,130, and University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne admits 96% of applicants, the highest admission rate on the page.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Art & Design Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Notre Dame · Notre Dame, IN | $70,286 | $26,780 | $7,244 | 11.3% |
| University of Notre Dame reports $70,286 in median earnings of Art & Design graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 11%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (68 graduates), Design and Applied Arts (28 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (12 graduates) | |||||
| 2 | Purdue University-Main Campus · West Lafayette, IN | $52,690 | $14,600 | $5,098 | 49.9% |
| Purdue University-Main Campus ranks 87th on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally and posts a six-year completion rate of 83%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (65 graduates), Film/Video and Photographic Arts (36 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (15 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($58,917) | |||||
| 3 | Huntington University · Huntington, IN | $46,073 | $19,310 | $10,796 | 75.6% |
| Huntington University, a private nonprofit university in Huntington, has an average net price of $19,310 and a six-year completion rate of 64%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Film/Video and Photographic Arts (18 graduates), Design and Applied Arts (6 graduates) | |||||
| 4 | Taylor University · Upland, IN | $46,026 | $24,865 | $16,143 | 73.5% |
| Taylor University admits 74% of applicants and carries an average net price of $24,865. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Film/Video and Photographic Arts (29 graduates), Design and Applied Arts (9 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (5 graduates) | |||||
| 5 | University of Evansville · Evansville, IN | $45,838 | $18,499 | $14,451 | 77.6% |
| University of Evansville reports $45,838 in median earnings of Art & Design graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $14,451 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (24 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (7 graduates) | |||||
| 6 | Ball State University · Muncie, IN | $43,524 | $14,940 | $7,834 | 85.5% |
| Ball State University ranks 6th on this list, with median earnings of $43,524 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (81 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (74 graduates), Design and Applied Arts (32 graduates) | |||||
| 7 | Anderson University · Anderson, IN | $42,697 | $25,021 | $23,119 | 79.3% |
| Anderson University posts a six-year completion rate of 54% and an average net price of $23,119 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management (10 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (6 graduates), Dance (5 graduates) | |||||
| 8 | Indiana University-Southeast · New Albany, IN | $42,084 | $7,888 | $3,782 | 84.5% |
| Indiana University-Southeast reports $42,084 in median earnings of Art & Design graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $7,888. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (18 graduates) | |||||
| 9 | Indiana State University · Terre Haute, IN | $41,791 | $10,873 | $6,455 | 80.8% |
| Admitting 81% of applicants, Indiana State University ranks 317th on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (27 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (18 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (7 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Music ($49,711) | |||||
| 10 | Butler University · Indianapolis, IN | $41,551 | $36,041 | $25,278 | 85.1% |
| Butler University posts a six-year completion rate of 80% and an average net price of $25,278 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management (27 graduates), Music (18 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (10 graduates) | |||||
| 11 | Indiana University-Indianapolis · Indianapolis, IN | $40,942 | $11,668 | $5,701 | 76.4% |
| Indiana University-Indianapolis admits 76% of applicants and carries an average net price of $11,668. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (105 graduates), Design and Applied Arts (17 graduates), Music (10 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Fine and Studio Arts ($41,629) | |||||
| 12 | Purdue University Fort Wayne · Fort Wayne, IN | $39,652 | $13,171 | $8,306 | 83.9% |
| Purdue University Fort Wayne reports $39,652 in median earnings of Art & Design graduates four years after completing and a six-year completion rate of 36%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (18 graduates), Music (16 graduates), Design and Applied Arts (11 graduates) | |||||
| 13 | DePauw University · Greencastle, IN | $39,430 | $22,264 | $11,820 | 57.2% |
| DePauw University reports median earnings of $39,430 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing, and its six-year completion rate stands at 75%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (16 graduates), Music (16 graduates), Film/Video and Photographic Arts (6 graduates) | |||||
| 14 | Indiana University-Bloomington · Bloomington, IN | $38,863 | $16,264 | $6,324 | 78.2% |
| Indiana University-Bloomington admits 78% of applicants and carries an average net price of $16,264. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (145 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (48 graduates), Design and Applied Arts (46 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management ($60,046), Design and Applied Arts ($54,630), Fine and Studio Arts ($43,816) | |||||
| 15 | Indiana University-South Bend · South Bend, IN | $38,663 | $8,653 | $4,637 | 83.8% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 40%, Indiana University-South Bend posts an average net price of $8,653. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (25 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (6 graduates) | |||||
| 16 | University of Indianapolis · Indianapolis, IN | $33,993 | $21,602 | $15,346 | 66.5% |
| University of Indianapolis shows median earnings of $33,993 for its Art & Design graduates two years after completing and an admission rate of 66%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (10 graduates), Design and Applied Arts (8 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (8 graduates) | |||||
| 17 | Valparaiso University · Valparaiso, IN | $32,925 | $18,578 | $11,043 | 89.4% |
| Valparaiso University graduates 70% of its students within six years and reports median earnings of $32,925 for Art & Design graduates two years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (12 graduates), Music (6 graduates) | |||||
| 18 | University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne · Fort Wayne, IN | $30,628 | $18,196 | $12,720 | 96.0% |
| University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne ranks 18th on this list and admits 96% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (10 graduates), Visual and Performing Arts, General (8 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (8 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($40,619) | |||||
| 19 | Indiana University-Northwest · Gary, IN | $26,353 | $5,130 | $1,419 | 73.4% |
| Indiana University-Northwest shows an average net price of $1,419 for families earning under $30,000 alongside median earnings of $26,353 for its Art & Design graduates two years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (11 graduates) | |||||
| 20 | Goshen College · Goshen, IN | $25,194 | $14,493 | $12,761 | 84.1% |
| Goshen College reports median earnings of $25,194 for its Art & Design graduates two years after completing, alongside a six-year completion rate of 65%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (9 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (5 graduates) | |||||
| 21 | Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion · Marion, IN | $22,423 | $22,866 | $19,793 | 88.9% |
| Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion ranks 753rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows an admission rate of 89%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (16 graduates), Design and Applied Arts (11 graduates), Music (7 graduates) | |||||
| 22 | Earlham College · Richmond, IN | $15,922 | $24,714 | $17,178 | 73.1% |
| Earlham College posts an average net price of $24,714 and graduates 69% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (12 graduates), Music (5 graduates) | |||||
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Art & Design graduates four years after completing, or two years for programs that report only a two-year figure, highest first. The figures cover federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled. For 6 of the 22 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The figures cited on this page cover the 15 schools with a reported completion median. University of Notre Dame reports $70,286, and the spread from top to bottom reaches $54,364.