WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+8% vs national median853 grads tracked

Design and Applied Arts at Purdue University

Ranked 25th of 135 bachelor's programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$45,571
middle 50%: $34,901 – $55,991
Median · 5 years out
$62,852
middle 50%: $47,340 – $77,806
Median · 10 years out
$80,325
middle 50%: $57,025 – $107,512

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 Purdue University's bachelor's program in Design and Applied Arts earn a median $45,571 one year after graduating, rising to $80,325 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 8% above the national median of $58,393 for this field, ranking 25th 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
6.6 yrs
≈ $7,497 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
$64,712 · 5 yrs out
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
Illinois State University
$62,818 · 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

Other majors at Purdue University

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$219,424 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$162,085 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$160,199 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$153,081 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$152,803 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$151,874 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$148,110 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$141,828 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$135,976 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$126,565 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$122,270 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Doctorate)
$122,253 · 5 yrs out

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