WhatGradsMake
Associate-21% vs national median57 grads tracked

Design and Applied Arts at Tompkins Cortland Community College

Ranked 119th of 124 associate programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$22,731
middle 50%: $17,611 – $29,599
Median · 5 years out
$34,040
middle 50%: $23,675 – $48,258
Median · 10 years out
$48,030
middle 50%: $30,437 – $61,926

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

Graduates of Tompkins Cortland Community College's associate program in Design and Applied Arts earn a median $22,731 one year after graduating, rising to $48,030 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 21% below the national median of $43,216 for this field, ranking 119th of 124 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
12.2 yrs
≈ $15,839 total interest

Same major at other universities

Iowa Lakes Community College
$35,495 · 5 yrs out
Adirondack Community College - SUNY Office of Community Colleges
$35,269 · 5 yrs out
Finger Lakes Community College - SUNY Office of Community Colleges
$35,263 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 12
$35,253 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Broome Community College
$34,840 · 5 yrs out
Waubonsee Community College
$34,188 · 5 yrs out
Horry - Georgetown Technical College
$33,604 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Peninsula Community College
$33,372 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 5
$33,372 · 5 yrs out
Angelina College
$32,743 · 5 yrs out
El Paso Community College
$29,214 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Tompkins Cortland Community College

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$75,234 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$72,712 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Associate)
$70,870 · 5 yrs out
Security Science and Technology (Associate)
$64,175 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$60,118 · 5 yrs out
Information Science/Studies (Associate)
$57,147 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Associate)
$54,496 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Associate)
$51,929 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Associate)
$50,311 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Associate)
$49,103 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Associate)
$48,380 · 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