WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+4% vs national median373 grads tracked

Design and Applied Arts at Metropolitan State University of Denver

Ranked 36th of 135 bachelor's programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$41,501
middle 50%: $29,749 – $52,989
Median · 5 years out
$60,886
middle 50%: $46,663 – $78,809
Median · 10 years out
$72,156
middle 50%: $56,406 – $95,698

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 Metropolitan State University of Denver's bachelor's program in Design and Applied Arts earn a median $41,501 one year after graduating, rising to $72,156 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 4% above the national median of $58,393 for this field, ranking 36th 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
7 yrs
≈ $8,057 total interest

Same major at other universities

Colorado State University
$62,306 · 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
Central Connecticut State University
$60,703 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Bloomington
$60,657 · 5 yrs out
Concordia University - Saint Paul
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
Marymount University
$59,793 · 5 yrs out
New York City College of Technology of the City University of New York
$59,083 · 5 yrs out
Judson University
$58,858 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Metropolitan State University of Denver

Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$106,133 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$106,133 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$92,521 · 5 yrs out
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$91,405 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$91,284 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$88,885 · 5 yrs out
Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$87,772 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)
$84,428 · 5 yrs out
Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$83,992 · 5 yrs out
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's)
$79,822 · 5 yrs out
Physics (Bachelor's)
$77,901 · 5 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's)
$75,619 · 5 yrs out

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