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
Design and Applied Arts graduates from Portland State University start at a $42k median. Earnings rise to $62k at five years and $73k at ten years.
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