Design and Applied Arts: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 21 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$69,930 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$69,930Median year-4 earnings
$33,288Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$69,930Median reported earnings · year 4
$75,426Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
36thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
21Reporting programs
21With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $38,351
- Federal debt
- $13,414
- Reporting programs
- 35
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $37,065
- Federal debt
- $15,000
- Reporting programs
- 116
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $52,204
- Federal debt
- $26,977
- Reporting programs
- 338
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $69,930
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 21
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $70,550
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$63,427National median$69,93075th percentile$80,986
21 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
21 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Illinois Institute of TechnologyChicago, IL · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$144,324Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$18,4252Liberty UniversityLynchburg, VA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$112,935Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$29,3573Rhode Island School of DesignProvidence, RI · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$93,136Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$50,5074The New SchoolNew York, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$86,473Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$58,7415Pratt Institute-MainBrooklyn, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$82,883Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$52,6596Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$80,986Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$38,5097George Washington UniversityWashington, DC · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$75,210Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$36,5868Maryland Institute College of ArtBaltimore, MD · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$73,348Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$42,7299Norwich UniversityNorthfield, VT · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$70,269Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$22,25710Marymount UniversityArlington, VA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$69,957Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$29,13711Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ · PublicYear-4 earnings$69,930Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$14,96712Arizona State University Digital ImmersionScottsdale, AZ · PublicYear-4 earnings$69,930Federal debtNot availableAnnual net priceNot available13Savannah College of Art and DesignSavannah, GA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$65,866Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$49,43014Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA · PublicYear-4 earnings$65,638Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$23,43315School of Visual ArtsNew York, NY · Private for-profitYear-4 earnings$65,176Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$57,91416University of BaltimoreBaltimore, MD · PublicYear-4 earnings$63,427Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$13,86817North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh, NC · PublicYear-4 earnings$60,289Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$17,30318Full Sail UniversityWinter Park, FL · Private for-profitYear-4 earnings$60,023Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$38,87519Academy of Art UniversitySan Francisco, CA · Private for-profitYear-4 earnings$57,636Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$40,61320Bowling Green State University-Main CampusBowling Green, OH · PublicYear-4 earnings$48,570Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$24,02221Atlantic UniversityGuaynabo, PR · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$37,426Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$6,425
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Illinois Institute of Technology$144,3242Liberty University$112,9353Rhode Island School of Design$93,1364The New School$86,4735Pratt Institute-Main$82,8836Drexel University$80,9867George Washington University$75,2108Maryland Institute College of Art$73,3489Norwich University$70,26910Marymount University$69,957Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1121 · 6 crosswalk linksGraphic DesignersSOC 27-1024 · 4 crosswalk linksArtists and Related Workers, All OtherSOC 27-1019 · 3 crosswalk linksCommercial and Industrial DesignersSOC 27-1021 · 3 crosswalk linksDesigners, All OtherSOC 27-1029 · 3 crosswalk linksSet and Exhibit DesignersSOC 27-1027 · 2 crosswalk linksSpecial Effects Artists and AnimatorsSOC 27-1014 · 2 crosswalk linksWeb and Digital Interface DesignersSOC 15-1255 · 2 crosswalk linksArchitecture Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1031 · 1 crosswalk linksArt DirectorsSOC 27-1011 · 1 crosswalk linksFashion DesignersSOC 27-1022 · 1 crosswalk linksInterior DesignersSOC 27-1025 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois Institute of TechnologyMaster's Degree | Chicago, IL | $144,324 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,425 |
| 2 | Liberty UniversityMaster's Degree | Lynchburg, VA | $112,935 | Not available | Baseline needed | $29,357 |
| 3 | Rhode Island School of DesignMaster's Degree | Providence, RI | $93,136 | Not available | Baseline needed | $50,507 |
| 4 | The New SchoolMaster's Degree | New York, NY | $86,473 | Not available | Baseline needed | $58,741 |
| 5 | Pratt Institute-MainMaster's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $82,883 | Not available | Baseline needed | $52,659 |
| 6 | Drexel UniversityMaster's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $80,986 | Not available | Baseline needed | $38,509 |
| 7 | George Washington UniversityMaster's Degree | Washington, DC | $75,210 | Not available | Baseline needed | $36,586 |
| 8 | Maryland Institute College of ArtMaster's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $73,348 | Not available | Baseline needed | $42,729 |
| 9 | Norwich UniversityMaster's Degree | Northfield, VT | $70,269 | Not available | Baseline needed | $22,257 |
| 10 | Marymount UniversityMaster's Degree | Arlington, VA | $69,957 | Not available | Baseline needed | $29,137 |
| 11 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionMaster's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $69,930 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,967 |
| 12 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionMaster's Degree | Scottsdale, AZ | $69,930 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 13 | Savannah College of Art and DesignMaster's Degree | Savannah, GA | $65,866 | Not available | Baseline needed | $49,430 |
| 14 | Virginia Commonwealth UniversityMaster's Degree | Richmond, VA | $65,638 | Not available | Baseline needed | $23,433 |
| 15 | School of Visual ArtsMaster's Degree | New York, NY | $65,176 | Not available | Baseline needed | $57,914 |
| 16 | University of BaltimoreMaster's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $63,427 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,868 |
| 17 | North Carolina State University at RaleighMaster's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $60,289 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,303 |
| 18 | Full Sail UniversityMaster's Degree | Winter Park, FL | $60,023 | Not available | Baseline needed | $38,875 |
| 19 | Academy of Art UniversityMaster's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $57,636 | Not available | Baseline needed | $40,613 |
| 20 | Bowling Green State University-Main CampusMaster's Degree | Bowling Green, OH | $48,570 | Not available | Baseline needed | $24,022 |
| 21 | Atlantic UniversityMaster's Degree | Guaynabo, PR | $37,426 | Not available | Baseline needed | $6,425 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.