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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #721 | Johns Hopkins UniversityPrivate | Baltimore, MD | $18,605 Median Art & Design Earnings | $1,473 | 7.6% | 94.6% |
| #722 | Savannah, GA | $18,430 Median Art & Design Earnings | $7,238 | — | 25.2% | |
| #723 | Bennington CollegePrivate | Bennington, VT | $18,098 Median Art & Design Earnings | $18,950 | 48.0% | 66.7% |
| #724 | University Of TulsaPrivate | Tulsa, OK | $18,087 Median Art & Design Earnings | $17,809 | 58.0% | 73.3% |
| #725 | Thousand Oaks, CA | $18,087 Median Art & Design Earnings | $17,414 | 88.9% | 74.0% | |
| #726 | Laie, HI | $17,846 Median Art & Design Earnings | $13,884 | 37.9% | 54.4% | |
| #727 | Seton Hill UniversityPrivate | Greensburg, PA | $17,717 Median Art & Design Earnings | $14,651 | 75.8% | 71.0% |
| #728 | Molloy CollegePrivate | Rockville Centre, NY | $17,050 Median Art & Design Earnings | $20,330 | 75.6% | 71.8% |
| #729 | Augusta UniversityPublic | Augusta, GA | $16,663 Median Art & Design Earnings | $10,597 | 89.3% | 48.6% |
| #730 | Fayetteville, NC | $16,454 Median Art & Design Earnings | $5,742 | 79.9% | 35.2% | |
| #731 | Clayton State UniversityPublic | Morrow, GA | $15,952 Median Art & Design Earnings | $8,685 | 70.6% | 35.4% |
| #732 | Gettysburg CollegePrivate | Gettysburg, PA | $15,922 Median Art & Design Earnings | $14,666 | 47.5% | 82.7% |
| #733 | Earlham CollegePrivate | Richmond, IN | $15,922 Median Art & Design Earnings | $18,306 | 74.2% | 67.9% |
| #734 | Bakersfield, CA | $15,817 Median Art & Design Earnings | $3,070 | 88.2% | 49.3% | |
| #735 | Spalding UniversityPrivate | Louisville, KY | $14,940 Median Art & Design Earnings | $21,467 | 98.6% | 57.3% |
| #736 | Chickasha, OK | $14,912 Median Art & Design Earnings | $6,445 | 55.8% | 36.3% | |
| #737 | Idaho State UniversityPublic | Pocatello, ID | $14,318 Median Art & Design Earnings | $14,678 | — | 38.3% |
| #738 | Pembroke, NC | $13,969 Median Art & Design Earnings | $7,922 | 92.4% | 44.5% | |
| #739 | Santa Fe, NM | $11,234 Median Art & Design Earnings | $13,316 | 100.0% | 24.5% | |
| #740 | Grambling, LA | $9,375 Median Art & Design Earnings | $16,447 | 23.7% | 32.3% |
