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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #41 | Clemson UniversityPublic | Clemson, SC | $46,671 Median Art & Design Earnings | $14,212 | 38.0% | 87.9% |
| #42 | Santa Barbara, CA | $46,667 Median Art & Design Earnings | $7,745 | 27.8% | 85.3% | |
| #43 | The New SchoolPrivate | New York, NY | $46,489 Median Art & Design Earnings | $48,206 | 62.5% | 71.2% |
| #44 | Chapman UniversityPrivate | Orange, CA | $46,460 Median Art & Design Earnings | $37,985 | 55.6% | 80.4% |
| #45 | University Of FloridaPublic | Gainesville, FL | $46,375 Median Art & Design Earnings | $2,387 | 24.0% | 91.5% |
| #46 | Pullman, WA | $46,210 Median Art & Design Earnings | $7,147 | 85.4% | 61.6% | |
| #47 | Menomonie, WI | $46,138 Median Art & Design Earnings | $10,499 | 84.7% | 52.5% | |
| #48 | Meredith CollegePrivate | Raleigh, NC | $46,089 Median Art & Design Earnings | $14,882 | 74.7% | 65.0% |
| #49 | Kean UniversityPublic | Union, NJ | $46,004 Median Art & Design Earnings | $6,593 | 76.9% | 43.4% |
| #50 | Thomas Jefferson UniversityPrivate | Philadelphia, PA | $45,960 Median Art & Design Earnings | $20,809 | 86.1% | 68.2% |
| #51 | Austin, TX | $45,957 Median Art & Design Earnings | $12,972 | 29.1% | 87.6% | |
| #52 | Marywood UniversityPrivate | Scranton, PA | $45,948 Median Art & Design Earnings | $19,389 | 83.7% | 72.5% |
| #53 | Tufts UniversityPrivate | Medford, MA | $45,927 Median Art & Design Earnings | $10,526 | 10.1% | 93.3% |
| #54 | Edmond, OK | $45,924 Median Art & Design Earnings | $19,109 | 97.1% | 55.2% | |
| #55 | Old Westbury, NY | $45,854 Median Art & Design Earnings | $16,548 | 78.1% | 56.0% | |
| #56 | Prairie View, TX | $45,835 Median Art & Design Earnings | $9,605 | 75.3% | 43.2% | |
| #57 | American UniversityPrivate | Washington, DC | $45,345 Median Art & Design Earnings | $21,176 | 47.4% | 78.5% |
| #58 | Rochester, NY | $45,168 Median Art & Design Earnings | $24,475 | 71.4% | 70.8% | |
| #59 | Bowie State UniversityPublic | Bowie, MD | $45,119 Median Art & Design Earnings | $16,935 | 83.5% | 38.1% |
| #60 | Farmingdale, NY | $45,046 Median Art & Design Earnings | $3,865 | 69.1% | 57.1% |
