Associate+8% vs national median534 grads tracked
Design and Applied Arts at Arapahoe Community College
Ranked 25th of 124 associate programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$38,181
middle 50%: $26,804 – $50,949
Median · 5 years out
$46,784
middle 50%: $32,894 – $66,047
Median · 10 years out
$53,460
middle 50%: $38,738 – $70,328
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Design and Applied Arts (associate) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Design and Applied Arts graduates from Arapahoe Community College earn $38k in their first year. Median salaries reach $53k after ten years.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
8.8 yrs
≈ $10,043 total interest
Same major at other universities
Hennepin Technical College
$47,521 · 5 yrs out
Salt Lake Community College
$47,297 · 5 yrs out
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology - Okmulgee
$47,119 · 5 yrs out
Housatonic Community College
$47,119 · 5 yrs out
Triton College
$46,948 · 5 yrs out
Houston Community College
$46,803 · 5 yrs out
Century College
$46,435 · 5 yrs out
Lone Star College System
$46,435 · 5 yrs out
San Jacinto Community College District
$46,116 · 5 yrs out
Navarro College
$46,055 · 5 yrs out
Collin County Community College District
$45,591 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
$45,571 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Arapahoe Community College
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$96,991 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$94,228 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$93,789 · 5 yrs out
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection (Certificate)
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$87,772 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$81,157 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$78,843 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$74,110 · 5 yrs out
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Associate)
$74,110 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$73,872 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$71,696 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Associate)
$71,212 · 5 yrs out