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Design and Applied Arts.
Master's Degree•113 Institutions
Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.
Annual Full Cost vs. Median Earnings
Each dot represents one program at an institution. Shows the spread of annual sticker price (or net price if sticker price is unavailable) vs earnings 4 years post-grad.
Field Median ($63,427)
P25-P75 Interval ($45,500 - $75,210)
HS Baseline ($35,872)
Breakeven Line (0% ROI)
Institution | State | Earnings | Avg Net Price | Median Debt | Lifetime Value Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chicago | IL | $144,324 Nat: $70,073 4yr Post-Grad | $18,425 /yr | - | +$591k |
Liberty University ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Lynchburg | VA | $112,935 Nat: $70,073 4yr Post-Grad | $29,357 /yr | $30,991 | +$299k |
Pittsburgh | PA | $106,421 Nat: $70,073 2yr Post-Grad | $31,944 /yr | $64,233 | +$275k |
Providence | RI | $93,136 Nat: $70,073 4yr Post-Grad | $50,507 /yr | - | +$87k |
San Francisco | CA | $86,129 Nat: $70,073 2yr Post-Grad | $53,909 /yr | - | +$50k |
New York | NY | $86,473 Nat: $70,073 4yr Post-Grad | $58,741 /yr | $42,587 | +$14k |
Philadelphia | PA | $80,986 Nat: $70,073 4yr Post-Grad | $38,509 /yr | - | +$3k |
Auburn | AL | - Nat: $70,073 | $24,323 /yr | - | -$0 |
Jacksonville | AL | - Nat: $70,073 | $14,279 /yr | - | -$0 |
Siloam Springs | AR | - Nat: $70,073 | $20,397 /yr | - | -$0 |
Pasadena | CA | - Nat: $70,073 | $48,661 /yr | - | -$0 |
Riverside | CA | - Nat: $70,073 | $26,285 /yr | - | -$0 |
Los Angeles | CA | - Nat: $70,073 | $12,548 /yr | - | -$0 |
Valencia | CA | - Nat: $70,073 | $46,080 /yr | - | -$0 |
Interior Designers Institute ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Newport Beach | CA | - Nat: $70,073 | - /yr | - | -$0 |
Laguna Beach | CA | - Nat: $70,073 | $42,505 /yr | - | -$0 |
Los Angeles | CA | - Nat: $70,073 | $51,248 /yr | - | -$0 |
Los Angeles | CA | - Nat: $70,073 | $32,740 /yr | - | -$0 |
Denver | CO | - Nat: $70,073 | $36,131 /yr | - | -$0 |
Bridgeport | CT | - Nat: $70,073 | $27,807 /yr | - | -$0 |
New Britain | CT | - Nat: $70,073 | $16,857 /yr | - | -$0 |
Newark | DE | - Nat: $70,073 | $17,799 /yr | - | -$0 |
Washington | DC | - Nat: $70,073 | $41,943 /yr | - | -$0 |
Boca Raton | FL | - Nat: $70,073 | $44,089 /yr | - | -$0 |
Gainesville | FL | - Nat: $70,073 | $6,541 /yr | - | -$0 |
Jacksonville University ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Jacksonville | FL | - Nat: $70,073 | $25,180 /yr | - | -$0 |
Brenau University ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Gainesville | GA | - Nat: $70,073 | $18,924 /yr | - | -$0 |
Atlanta | GA | - Nat: $70,073 | $12,116 /yr | - | -$0 |
Boise | ID | - Nat: $70,073 | $21,610 /yr | - | -$0 |
Chicago | IL | - Nat: $70,073 | $49,790 /yr | - | -$0 |
Chicago | IL | - Nat: $70,073 | $30,902 /yr | - | -$0 |
Chicago | IL | - Nat: $70,073 | $10,974 /yr | - | -$0 |
Evanston | IL | - Nat: $70,073 | $29,167 /yr | - | -$0 |
Muncie | IN | - Nat: $70,073 | $14,940 /yr | - | -$0 |
Indianapolis | IN | - Nat: $70,073 | $11,668 /yr | - | -$0 |
Notre Dame | IN | - Nat: $70,073 | $26,780 /yr | - | -$0 |
Lawrence | KS | - Nat: $70,073 | $18,059 /yr | - | -$0 |
Wichita | KS | - Nat: $70,073 | $13,194 /yr | - | -$0 |
Lexington | KY | - Nat: $70,073 | $18,851 /yr | - | -$0 |
Boston | MA | - Nat: $70,073 | $24,402 /yr | - | -$0 |
Cambridge | MA | - Nat: $70,073 | $19,066 /yr | - | -$0 |
Boston | MA | - Nat: $70,073 | $24,100 /yr | - | -$0 |
Boston | MA | - Nat: $70,073 | $30,915 /yr | - | -$0 |
Boston | MA | - Nat: $70,073 | $29,618 /yr | - | -$0 |
Detroit | MI | - Nat: $70,073 | $34,617 /yr | - | -$0 |
Ypsilanti | MI | - Nat: $70,073 | $15,407 /yr | - | -$0 |
Big Rapids | MI | - Nat: $70,073 | $8,624 /yr | - | -$0 |
Ann Arbor | MI | - Nat: $70,073 | $13,138 /yr | - | -$0 |
Minneapolis | MN | - Nat: $70,073 | $16,778 /yr | - | -$0 |
Minneapolis | MN | - Nat: $70,073 | $29,926 /yr | - | -$0 |
Clinton | MS | - Nat: $70,073 | $27,712 /yr | - | -$0 |
New England College ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Henniker | NH | - Nat: $70,073 | $26,972 /yr | - | -$0 |
Ithaca | NY | - Nat: $70,073 | $28,690 /yr | - | -$0 |
New York | NY | - Nat: $70,073 | $38,667 /yr | - | -$0 |
Rochester | NY | - Nat: $70,073 | $34,906 /yr | - | -$0 |
Buffalo | NY | - Nat: $70,073 | $20,995 /yr | - | -$0 |
Syracuse | NY | - Nat: $70,073 | $38,793 /yr | - | -$0 |
Greensboro | NC | - Nat: $70,073 | $10,965 /yr | - | -$0 |
Charlotte | NC | - Nat: $70,073 | $30,857 /yr | - | -$0 |
Cincinnati | OH | - Nat: $70,073 | $25,648 /yr | - | -$0 |
Columbus | OH | - Nat: $70,073 | $29,439 /yr | - | -$0 |
Kent | OH | - Nat: $70,073 | $20,787 /yr | - | -$0 |
Columbus | OH | - Nat: $70,073 | $17,339 /yr | - | -$0 |
Athens | OH | - Nat: $70,073 | $21,637 /yr | - | -$0 |
University of Central Oklahoma ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Edmond | OK | - Nat: $70,073 | $18,309 /yr | - | -$0 |
Eugene | OR | - Nat: $70,073 | $22,182 /yr | - | -$0 |
Salem | OR | - Nat: $70,073 | $25,121 /yr | - | -$0 |
Kutztown | PA | - Nat: $70,073 | $21,331 /yr | - | -$0 |
Philadelphia | PA | - Nat: $70,073 | $43,086 /yr | - | -$0 |
University Park | PA | - Nat: $70,073 | $32,875 /yr | - | -$0 |
Philadelphia | PA | - Nat: $70,073 | $28,198 /yr | - | -$0 |
Clemson | SC | - Nat: $70,073 | $22,253 /yr | - | -$0 |
Chattanooga | TN | - Nat: $70,073 | $14,265 /yr | - | -$0 |
Houston | TX | - Nat: $70,073 | $14,276 /yr | - | -$0 |
University of the Incarnate Word ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. San Antonio | TX | - Nat: $70,073 | $22,775 /yr | - | -$0 |
Denton | TX | - Nat: $70,073 | $15,649 /yr | - | -$0 |
San Marcos | TX | - Nat: $70,073 | $16,805 /yr | - | -$0 |
Austin | TX | - Nat: $70,073 | $19,857 /yr | - | -$0 |
Fairfax | VA | - Nat: $70,073 | $17,915 /yr | - | -$0 |
Pullman | WA | - Nat: $70,073 | $14,971 /yr | - | -$0 |
Seattle | WA | - Nat: $70,073 | $14,091 /yr | - | -$0 |
Morgantown | WV | - Nat: $70,073 | $15,634 /yr | - | -$0 |
Menomonie | WI | - Nat: $70,073 | $17,490 /yr | - | -$0 |
Burbank | CA | - Nat: $70,073 | $39,011 /yr | - | -$0 |
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. University Park | PA | - Nat: $70,073 | $19,550 /yr | - | -$0 |
Brooklyn | NY | $82,883 Nat: $70,073 4yr Post-Grad | $52,659 /yr | $123,755 | -$6k |
Arizona State University Digital Immersion ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Scottsdale | AZ | $69,930 Nat: $70,073 4yr Post-Grad | - /yr | $60,449 | -$23k |
Washington | DC | $75,210 Nat: $70,073 4yr Post-Grad | $36,586 /yr | $75,495 | -$44k |
Tempe | AZ | $69,930 Nat: $70,073 4yr Post-Grad | $14,967 /yr | $60,449 | -$51k |
Northfield | VT | $70,269 Nat: $70,073 4yr Post-Grad | $22,257 /yr | - | -$61k |
Baltimore | MD | $73,348 Nat: $70,073 4yr Post-Grad | $42,729 /yr | $39,905 | -$72k |
Arlington | VA | $69,957 Nat: $70,073 4yr Post-Grad | $29,137 /yr | $95,211 | -$77k |
Richmond | VA | $65,638 Nat: $70,073 4yr Post-Grad | $23,433 /yr | - | -$104k |
University of Baltimore ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Baltimore | MD | $63,427 Nat: $70,073 4yr Post-Grad | $13,868 /yr | - | -$107k |
Raleigh | NC | $60,289 Nat: $70,073 4yr Post-Grad | $17,303 /yr | - | -$142k |
New Haven | CT | $59,169 Nat: $70,073 2yr Post-Grad | $23,777 /yr | - | -$142k |
Savannah | GA | $65,866 Nat: $70,073 4yr Post-Grad | $49,430 /yr | $82,741 | -$150k |
Scranton | PA | $57,318 Nat: $70,073 2yr Post-Grad | $23,388 /yr | - | -$159k |
New York | NY | $65,176 Nat: $70,073 4yr Post-Grad | $57,914 /yr | - | -$172k |
Tallahassee | FL | $52,733 Nat: $70,073 2yr Post-Grad | $11,297 /yr | - | -$181k |
Full Sail University ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Winter Park | FL | $60,023 Nat: $70,073 4yr Post-Grad | $38,875 /yr | $40,077 | -$184k |
Academy of Art University ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. San Francisco | CA | $57,636 Nat: $70,073 4yr Post-Grad | $40,613 /yr | $93,267 | -$209k |
Bloomfield Hills | MI | $45,696 Nat: $70,073 2yr Post-Grad | - /yr | $63,500 | -$231k |
Bowling Green | OH | $48,570 Nat: $70,073 4yr Post-Grad | $24,022 /yr | - | -$265k |
Philadelphia | PA | $45,500 Nat: $70,073 2yr Post-Grad | $28,928 /yr | - | -$286k |
Ames | IA | $43,426 Nat: $70,073 2yr Post-Grad | $18,589 /yr | - | -$288k |
Richardson | TX | $40,461 Nat: $70,073 2yr Post-Grad | $18,267 /yr | - | -$317k |
New York | NY | $39,369 Nat: $70,073 2yr Post-Grad | $19,095 /yr | - | -$330k |
Atlantic University ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Guaynabo | PR | $37,426 Nat: $70,073 4yr Post-Grad | $6,425 /yr | $16,220 | -$342k |
Baltimore | MD | $36,674 Nat: $70,073 2yr Post-Grad | $16,467 /yr | - | -$353k |
Chicago | IL | $33,993 Nat: $70,073 2yr Post-Grad | $14,860 /yr | - | -$378k |
New York | NY | $34,704 Nat: $70,073 2yr Post-Grad | $37,050 /yr | - | -$411k |
Pacific Northwest College of Art ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Portland | OR | $25,658 Nat: $65,638 2yr Post-Grad | $35,785 /yr | - | -$504k |
Analysis Notes:
- Lifetime Value Added: Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median bachelor's degree holder, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes.
- Avg Net Price: The average price paid by students who receive federal financial aid (grants/loans).Note: For graduate programs, the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition and net price.
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.