WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+9% vs national median264 grads tracked

Design and Applied Arts at University of Michigan

Ranked 23rd of 135 bachelor's programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$40,194
middle 50%: $28,007 – $54,898
Median · 5 years out
$63,572
middle 50%: $45,888 – $89,213
Median · 10 years out
$81,175
middle 50%: $54,615 – $112,060

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 University of Michigan's bachelor's program in Design and Applied Arts earn a median $40,194 one year after graduating, rising to $81,175 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 9% above the national median of $58,393 for this field, ranking 23rd 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
6.8 yrs
≈ $7,973 total interest

Same major at other universities

State University of New York at Oneonta
$66,303 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina State University
$65,807 · 5 yrs out
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 North Texas
$63,192 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University
$62,852 · 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

Other majors at University of Michigan

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$240,526 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$205,113 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$205,113 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$193,286 · 5 yrs out
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$162,338 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$151,020 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$148,552 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$144,865 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$139,695 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Doctorate)
$137,588 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$137,498 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$137,470 · 5 yrs out

Related fields of study

Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
Compare universities
Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry
Compare universities
Dance
Compare universities
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Compare universities
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Compare universities
Fine and Studio Arts
Compare universities