WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-22% vs national median120 grads tracked

Design and Applied Arts at Colorado Mesa University

Ranked 120th of 135 bachelor's programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$31,317
middle 50%: $23,322 – $39,556
Median · 5 years out
$45,273
middle 50%: $33,905 – $54,404
Median · 10 years out
$54,051
middle 50%: $41,308 – $71,555

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Design and Applied Arts (bachelor's) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Colorado Mesa University's bachelor's program in Design and Applied Arts earn a median $31,317 one year after graduating, rising to $54,051 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 22% below the national median of $58,393 for this field, ranking 120th of 135 reporting programs.

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
9.4 yrs
≈ $11,331 total interest

Same major at other universities

Millikin University
$45,751 · 5 yrs out
Coastal Carolina University
$45,557 · 5 yrs out
Charleston Southern University
$45,480 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University Fort Wayne
$45,451 · 5 yrs out
Dakota State University
$45,365 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College of Technology at Canton
$45,300 · 5 yrs out
University of Central Missouri
$43,858 · 5 yrs out
West Texas A&M University
$43,670 · 5 yrs out
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
$43,647 · 5 yrs out
University of Hartford
$42,888 · 5 yrs out
Black Hills State University
$42,505 · 5 yrs out
Converse University
$42,146 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Colorado Mesa University

Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (Bachelor's)
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$89,880 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$89,103 · 5 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Associate)
$86,367 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Associate)
$84,259 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$84,159 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$84,159 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)
$78,278 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$77,273 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Bachelor's)
$76,868 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Certificate)
$76,015 · 5 yrs out

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