Design and Applied Arts bachelor's degree outcomes at Mercyhurst University

Erie, PA · 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.

$6,079 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 59.5% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: Not reached
10-year scenario: −98% · Negative payoff
Price evidence: College-wide context only

PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →

$0Annual price−$175,890

$8,000Annual price−$207,890

$16,000Annual price−$239,890

$19,000Current college-wide context−$251,890

$24,000Annual price−$271,890

$32,000Annual price−$303,890

$40,000Annual price−$335,890

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+107%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$28,267 → $58,401

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

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

30Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

24Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

0Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$19,444

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$45,411

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.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$19,444Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$59,557Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE81.0%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE60.2%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.

$28,267Year 1

$45,411Year 4

$58,401Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

7.6% 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$3,784

Estimated loan payment$286

24borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$45,411 vs. $51,490

$6,079 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$77,280 median wagePA estimate · 4,170 jobs · 25-1121+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 8k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeGraphic Designers$60,730 median wagePA estimate · 8,150 jobs · 27-1024-1.7% projected U.S. growth · 16k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeArtists and Related Workers, All Other$86,260 median wagePA estimate · 100 jobs · 27-1019+2.0% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: No formal educational credentialCommercial and Industrial Designers$82,610 median wagePA estimate · 770 jobs · 27-1021+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 2.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeDesigners, All Other$72,760 median wagePA estimate · 9,480 jobs · 27-1029+1.2% projected U.S. growth · 2.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWeb and Digital Interface Designers$104,160 median wagePA estimate · 2,820 jobs · 15-1255+6.0% projected U.S. growth · 8.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSpecial Effects Artists and Animators$71,760 median wagePA estimate · 300 jobs · 27-1014-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 4.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSet and Exhibit Designers$59,670 median wagePA estimate · 120 jobs · 27-1027+1.4% projected U.S. growth · 2.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeArchitecture Teachers, Postsecondary$101,740 median wagePA estimate · 440 jobs · 25-1031+2.6% projected U.S. growth · 0.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeArt Directors$97,450 median wagePA estimate · 1,250 jobs · 27-1011+4.2% projected U.S. growth · 12.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePostsecondary Teachers, All Other$65,400 median wagePA estimate · 12,100 jobs · 25-1199+2.0% projected U.S. growth · 12.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeFashion Designers$63,840 median wagePA estimate · 320 jobs · 27-1022+0.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree

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