WhatGradsMake
Associate+10% vs national median418 grads tracked

Design and Applied Arts at Portland Community College

Ranked 18th of 124 associate programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$35,966
middle 50%: $25,699 – $49,475
Median · 5 years out
$47,631
middle 50%: $36,019 – $61,373
Median · 10 years out
$57,208
middle 50%: $40,956 – $77,215

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 Portland Community College's associate program in Design and Applied Arts earn a median $35,966 one year after graduating, rising to $57,208 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 10% above the national median of $43,216 for this field, ranking 18th 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
8.8 yrs
≈ $10,189 total interest

Same major at other universities

Other majors at Portland Community College

Related fields of study