WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-16% vs national median87 grads tracked

Design and Applied Arts at Ball State University

Ranked 101st of 135 bachelor's programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$36,766
middle 50%: $29,970 – $48,572
Median · 5 years out
$48,943
middle 50%: $34,351 – $63,346
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 Ball State University's bachelor's program in Design and Applied Arts earn a median $36,766 one year after graduating, rising to $48,943 by year five. Five years out, earnings run 16% below the national median of $58,393 for this field, ranking 101st 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
8.8 yrs
≈ $10,043 total interest

Same major at other universities

Lamar University
$49,718 · 5 yrs out
South Dakota State University
$49,665 · 5 yrs out
University of Akron (The)
$49,533 · 5 yrs out
Concordia University
$49,399 · 5 yrs out
Dominican University
$49,104 · 5 yrs out
Bemidji State University
$49,079 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
$48,723 · 5 yrs out
Missouri State University
$48,304 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
$48,144 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at El Paso
$48,066 · 5 yrs out
Valdosta State University
$47,848 · 5 yrs out
Liberty University
$47,828 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Ball State University

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's)
$104,232 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$98,755 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$97,243 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$96,168 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$89,880 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$89,443 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$88,775 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$85,374 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$85,374 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Doctorate)
$85,242 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$83,054 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$81,671 · 5 yrs out

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