Associate+13% vs national median335 grads tracked
Design and Applied Arts at Dakota County Technical College
Ranked 12th of 124 associate programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$36,728
middle 50%: $27,237 – $48,349
Median · 5 years out
$48,878
middle 50%: $36,266 – $63,305
Median · 10 years out
$58,264
middle 50%: $40,863 – $79,885
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 alumni earn $37k initially. After ten years, median compensation rises to $58k.
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
8.5 yrs
≈ $9,901 total interest
Same major at other universities
Brookhaven College
$55,464 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Bloomington
$54,757 · 5 yrs out
New York City College of Technology of the City University of New York
$53,258 · 5 yrs out
William Rainey Harper College
$50,919 · 5 yrs out
Montana State University Bozeman
$49,855 · 5 yrs out
Norwalk Community College
$49,513 · 5 yrs out
Austin Community College
$48,617 · 5 yrs out
Tunxis Community College
$48,487 · 5 yrs out
Minneapolis Community and Technical College
$48,066 · 5 yrs out
Nassau Community College
$47,939 · 5 yrs out
Community College of Denver
$47,802 · 5 yrs out
Portland Community College
$47,631 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Dakota County Technical College
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$86,929 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$86,648 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$86,150 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate)
$85,313 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$79,314 · 5 yrs out
Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$77,273 · 5 yrs out
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$76,582 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$70,801 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Associate)
$66,486 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$66,266 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Certificate)
$65,986 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate)
$64,645 · 5 yrs out