WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+8% vs national median103 grads tracked

Design and Applied Arts at Illinois State University

Ranked 26th of 135 bachelor's programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$41,871
middle 50%: $32,920 – $48,281
Median · 5 years out
$62,818
middle 50%: $49,171 – $75,444
Median · 10 years out
n/a
not enough graduates to report

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 Illinois State University's bachelor's program in Design and Applied Arts earn a median $41,871 one year after graduating, rising to $62,818 by year five. Five years out, earnings run 8% above the national median of $58,393 for this field, ranking 26th 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
6.9 yrs
≈ $7,908 total interest

Same major at other universities

Arizona State University
$64,530 · 5 yrs out
DePaul University
$64,085 · 5 yrs out
Loyola University Chicago
$63,750 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$63,572 · 5 yrs out
University of North Texas
$63,192 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University
$62,852 · 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
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

Other majors at Illinois State University

Education (Doctorate)
$110,151 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$110,004 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$100,616 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$95,329 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$94,916 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$93,908 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$92,435 · 5 yrs out
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's)
$91,685 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$91,592 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$89,527 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$88,197 · 5 yrs out
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Doctorate)
$87,772 · 5 yrs out

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