WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+6% vs national median673 grads tracked

Design and Applied Arts at Portland State University

Ranked 32nd of 135 bachelor's programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$41,796
middle 50%: $30,562 – $55,464
Median · 5 years out
$61,827
middle 50%: $44,230 – $84,083
Median · 10 years out
$73,014
middle 50%: $51,365 – $104,222

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 Portland State University's bachelor's program in Design and Applied Arts earn a median $41,796 one year after graduating, rising to $73,014 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 6% above the national median of $58,393 for this field, ranking 32nd 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
6.9 yrs
≈ $7,955 total interest

Same major at other universities

Illinois State University
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
Weber State University
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at New Paltz
$62,579 · 5 yrs out
Clemson University
$62,363 · 5 yrs out
Colorado State University
$62,306 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University - Commerce
$61,926 · 5 yrs out
Winthrop University
$61,827 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$61,756 · 5 yrs out
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
$61,375 · 5 yrs out
Metropolitan State University of Denver
$60,886 · 5 yrs out
Central Connecticut State University
$60,703 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Bloomington
$60,657 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Portland State University

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$189,860 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$158,313 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$130,437 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$126,846 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$123,233 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$122,667 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Doctorate)
$120,677 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$116,662 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$115,474 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,147 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$110,977 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$105,672 · 5 yrs out

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