WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-1% vs national median213 grads tracked

Design and Applied Arts at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale

Ranked 51st of 135 bachelor's programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$36,851
middle 50%: $27,389 – $47,780
Median · 5 years out
$57,938
middle 50%: $45,751 – $69,917
Median · 10 years out
$62,224
middle 50%: $45,615 – $79,614

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 Southern Illinois University at Carbondale's bachelor's program in Design and Applied Arts earn a median $36,851 one year after graduating, rising to $62,224 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 1% below the national median of $58,393 for this field, ranking 51st 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
7.6 yrs
≈ $8,865 total interest

Same major at other universities

Oregon State University
$58,688 · 5 yrs out
Kent State University
$58,644 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Dallas
$58,559 · 5 yrs out
West Virginia University
$58,393 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Chicago
$58,150 · 5 yrs out
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
$58,150 · 5 yrs out
Oklahoma State University
$57,791 · 5 yrs out
Brigham Young University - Idaho
$57,769 · 5 yrs out
Ohio University
$57,562 · 5 yrs out
University of Indianapolis
$57,208 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Lehman College
$57,147 · 5 yrs out
University of Central Oklahoma
$57,033 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale

Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$183,045 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$183,045 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$146,060 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Bachelor's)
$128,910 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$128,254 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$112,207 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$110,141 · 5 yrs out
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's)
$98,560 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,955 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$97,921 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$95,779 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,729 · 5 yrs out

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