WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+7% vs national median455 grads tracked

Design and Applied Arts at Colorado State University

Ranked 30th of 135 bachelor's programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$44,129
middle 50%: $31,617 – $54,237
Median · 5 years out
$62,306
middle 50%: $49,659 – $75,054
Median · 10 years out
$67,476
middle 50%: $47,376 – $93,395

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 State University's bachelor's program in Design and Applied Arts earn a median $44,129 one year after graduating, rising to $67,476 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 7% above the national median of $58,393 for this field, ranking 30th 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
6.8 yrs
≈ $7,702 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of North Texas
$63,192 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University
$62,852 · 5 yrs out
Illinois State University
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
Weber State University
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at New Paltz
$62,579 · 5 yrs out
Clemson University
$62,363 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University - Commerce
$61,926 · 5 yrs out
Portland State University
$61,827 · 5 yrs out
Winthrop University
$61,827 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$61,756 · 5 yrs out
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
$61,375 · 5 yrs out
Metropolitan State University of Denver
$60,886 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Colorado State University

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$212,009 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$135,185 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$131,863 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$127,509 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$125,457 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Bachelor's)
$120,903 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Bachelor's)
$120,903 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$115,842 · 5 yrs out
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's)
$108,642 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$107,710 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$106,687 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$106,500 · 5 yrs out

Related fields of study

Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
Compare universities
Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry
Compare universities
Dance
Compare universities
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Compare universities
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Compare universities
Fine and Studio Arts
Compare universities