Bachelor's-18% vs national median259 grads tracked
Design and Applied Arts at Western Carolina University
Ranked 108th of 135 bachelor's programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$37,958
middle 50%: $29,481 – $45,827
Median · 5 years out
$47,802
middle 50%: $37,651 – $61,250
Median · 10 years out
$54,051
middle 50%: $41,582 – $76,224
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
Design and Applied Arts bachelor's degrees yield a median first-year salary of $38k. Year-five earnings reach $48k.
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
8.7 yrs
≈ $9,929 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
$48,723 · 5 yrs out
Missouri State University
$48,304 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
$48,144 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at El Paso
$48,066 · 5 yrs out
Valdosta State University
$47,848 · 5 yrs out
Liberty University
$47,828 · 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
Minnesota State University, Mankato
$46,435 · 5 yrs out
University of North Georgia
$45,751 · 5 yrs out
Millikin University
$45,751 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Western Carolina University
Education (Doctorate)
$96,791 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$95,724 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$88,779 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$86,622 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$86,297 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$86,297 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$86,216 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$85,927 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$85,430 · 5 yrs out
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctorate)
$84,494 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$81,907 · 5 yrs out
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (Bachelor's)
$79,484 · 5 yrs out