WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-20% vs national median43 grads tracked

Design and Applied Arts at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Ranked 112th of 135 bachelor's programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$35,528
middle 50%: $25,331 – $45,244
Median · 5 years out
$46,435
middle 50%: $39,655 – $55,464
Median · 10 years out
$69,154
middle 50%: $47,119 – $82,614

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 Minnesota State University, Mankato's bachelor's program in Design and Applied Arts earn a median $35,528 one year after graduating, rising to $69,154 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 20% below the national median of $58,393 for this field, ranking 112th 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
8.5 yrs
≈ $10,215 total interest

Same major at other universities

Valdosta State University
$47,848 · 5 yrs out
Liberty University
$47,828 · 5 yrs out
Western Carolina University
$47,802 · 5 yrs out
Texas Woman's University
$47,740 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana Tech University
$47,219 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
$47,059 · 5 yrs out
University of North Georgia
$45,751 · 5 yrs out
Millikin University
$45,751 · 5 yrs out
Coastal Carolina University
$45,557 · 5 yrs out
Charleston Southern University
$45,480 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University Fort Wayne
$45,451 · 5 yrs out
Dakota State University
$45,365 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Engineering (Master's)
$111,945 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$110,650 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$105,162 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$101,341 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$99,769 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$97,115 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,990 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$95,590 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Bachelor's)
$94,989 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$94,389 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$94,288 · 5 yrs out
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$92,158 · 5 yrs out

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