Design and Applied Arts bachelor's degree outcomes at Maine College of Art & Design

Portland, ME · Private nonprofit · Federal field 5004

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings trail the same-degree benchmark.

$12,047 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 68.5% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: Not reached
10-year scenario: −117% · Negative payoff
Price evidence: College-wide context only

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+29%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$29,001 → $37,416

25Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

21Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

38Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

55Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$43,593Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

—Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$38,338

Institution-wide annual average net price—not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$27,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$39,443

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$286/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$38,338Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$60,128Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE76.1%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE51.5%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$29,001Year 1

$39,443Year 4

$37,416Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

8.7% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$3,287

Estimated loan payment$286

55borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$39,443 vs. $51,490

$12,047 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for—not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$79,860 median wageME estimate · 340 jobs · 25-1121+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 8k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeGraphic Designers$60,030 median wageME estimate · 560 jobs · 27-1024-1.7% projected U.S. growth · 16k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommercial and Industrial Designers$83,910 median wageU.S. estimate · 200 jobs · 27-1021+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 2.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeArtists and Related Workers, All Other$71,240 median wageU.S. estimate · 6,930 jobs · 27-1019+2.0% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: No formal educational credentialDesigners, All Other$64,950 median wageU.S. estimate · 9,480 jobs · 27-1029+1.2% projected U.S. growth · 2.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWeb and Digital Interface Designers$104,000 median wageU.S. estimate · 380 jobs · 15-1255+6.0% projected U.S. growth · 8.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSpecial Effects Artists and Animators$102,030 median wageU.S. estimate · 19,970 jobs · 27-1014-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 4.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSet and Exhibit Designers$75,240 median wageU.S. estimate · 10,630 jobs · 27-1027+1.4% projected U.S. growth · 2.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeArt Directors$100,300 median wageME estimate · 53,070 jobs · 27-1011+4.2% projected U.S. growth · 12.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeArchitecture Teachers, Postsecondary$96,870 median wageU.S. estimate · 7,700 jobs · 25-1031+2.6% projected U.S. growth · 0.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeInterior Designers$63,830 median wageME estimate · 230 jobs · 27-1025+2.7% projected U.S. growth · 7.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePostsecondary Teachers, All Other$59,950 median wageME estimate · 280 jobs · 25-1199+2.0% projected U.S. growth · 12.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degree

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