Associate-5% vs national median156 grads tracked
Design and Applied Arts at Purdue University Fort Wayne
Ranked 57th of 124 associate programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$31,485
middle 50%: $22,669 – $43,647
Median · 5 years out
$41,019
middle 50%: $31,552 – $52,031
Median · 10 years out
$47,346
middle 50%: $34,916 – $63,927
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Design and Applied Arts (associate) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Design and Applied Arts associate degree holders earn $31,485 initially. Median earnings reach $47,346 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
10.4 yrs
≈ $12,317 total interest
Same major at other universities
Springfield Technical Community College
$41,844 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 13
$41,624 · 5 yrs out
Northern Essex Community College
$41,382 · 5 yrs out
Saint Louis Community College
$41,379 · 5 yrs out
Cuyahoga Community College
$41,262 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Western Community College
$41,019 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 2
$40,994 · 5 yrs out
Sinclair Community College
$40,920 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
$40,906 · 5 yrs out
Monroe Community College
$40,883 · 5 yrs out
Lane Community College
$40,729 · 5 yrs out
Tidewater Community College
$40,497 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Purdue University Fort Wayne
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$127,241 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$121,240 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$110,938 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$107,834 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$102,996 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$93,945 · 5 yrs out
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$89,353 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$87,772 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$87,389 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$87,056 · 5 yrs out
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$86,911 · 5 yrs out