Bachelor's-4% vs national median4,093 grads tracked
Design and Applied Arts at Iowa State University of Science & Technology
Ranked 62nd of 135 bachelor's programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$39,805
middle 50%: $29,588 – $50,864
Median · 5 years out
$55,987
middle 50%: $42,020 – $72,404
Median · 10 years out
$68,029
middle 50%: $49,498 – $94,309
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
Design and Applied Arts alumni from Iowa State University earn $39,805 in their first year. Median salaries increase to $68,029 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
7.5 yrs
≈ $8,660 total interest
Same major at other universities
CUNY Lehman College
$57,147 · 5 yrs out
University of Central Oklahoma
$57,033 · 5 yrs out
University of New Haven
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
Southern Utah University
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
Utah Valley University
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
Texas Tech University
$56,170 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Stout
$55,974 · 5 yrs out
East Carolina University
$55,650 · 5 yrs out
Fitchburg State University
$55,520 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Saint Louis
$55,464 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Queens College
$55,464 · 5 yrs out
Radford University
$55,444 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Iowa State University of Science & Technology
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$147,324 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$146,317 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$136,278 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$118,825 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$116,045 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$115,806 · 5 yrs out
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields (Doctorate)
$113,881 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$110,315 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$107,785 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$107,597 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$104,160 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$104,015 · 5 yrs out