Associate+13% vs national median558 grads tracked
Design and Applied Arts at Austin Community College
Ranked 13th of 124 associate programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$33,948
middle 50%: $24,561 – $48,487
Median · 5 years out
$48,617
middle 50%: $33,046 – $66,220
Median · 10 years out
$58,597
middle 50%: $40,545 – $82,519
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
Design and Applied Arts associates earn a $33,948 median in year one. Median salaries reach $58,597 after 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
8.8 yrs
≈ $10,329 total interest
Same major at other universities
Indiana University - Bloomington
$54,757 · 5 yrs out
New York City College of Technology of the City University of New York
$53,258 · 5 yrs out
William Rainey Harper College
$50,919 · 5 yrs out
Montana State University Bozeman
$49,855 · 5 yrs out
Norwalk Community College
$49,513 · 5 yrs out
Dakota County Technical College
$48,878 · 5 yrs out
Tunxis Community College
$48,487 · 5 yrs out
Minneapolis Community and Technical College
$48,066 · 5 yrs out
Nassau Community College
$47,939 · 5 yrs out
Community College of Denver
$47,802 · 5 yrs out
Portland Community College
$47,631 · 5 yrs out
Hennepin Technical College
$47,521 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Austin Community College
Fire Protection (Associate)
$98,659 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Certificate)
$82,142 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Certificate)
$82,142 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$80,645 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Associate)
$80,472 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Associate)
$80,472 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Associate)
$77,093 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Certificate)
$75,704 · 5 yrs out
Geography and Cartography (Certificate)
$75,704 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$75,063 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Associate)
$74,729 · 5 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate)
$74,643 · 5 yrs out