WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-13% vs national median259 grads tracked

Design and Applied Arts at SUNY Buffalo State University

Ranked 91st of 135 bachelor's programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$33,731
middle 50%: $25,535 – $41,643
Median · 5 years out
$50,607
middle 50%: $39,712 – $62,509
Median · 10 years out
$59,211
middle 50%: $47,119 – $73,872

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 SUNY Buffalo State University's bachelor's program in Design and Applied Arts earn a median $33,731 one year after graduating, rising to $59,211 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 13% below the national median of $58,393 for this field, ranking 91st 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
≈ $10,093 total interest

Same major at other universities

St. Catherine University
$51,694 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota Duluth
$51,682 · 5 yrs out
Minneapolis College of Art & Design
$51,657 · 5 yrs out
University of Bridgeport
$51,223 · 5 yrs out
Cleveland State University
$50,831 · 5 yrs out
Western Oregon University
$50,831 · 5 yrs out
University of Northwestern- St Paul
$50,311 · 5 yrs out
University of Saint Francis
$50,245 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Oswego (SUNY Oswego)
$50,065 · 5 yrs out
Lamar University
$49,718 · 5 yrs out
South Dakota State University
$49,665 · 5 yrs out
University of Akron (The)
$49,533 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at SUNY Buffalo State University

Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$93,589 · 5 yrs out
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$85,725 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$84,962 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$84,962 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$78,843 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$77,901 · 5 yrs out
Physics (Bachelor's)
$76,770 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Master's)
$72,585 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$70,651 · 5 yrs out
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's)
$70,651 · 5 yrs out
Visual and Performing Arts (Master's)
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Master's)
$64,503 · 5 yrs out

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