WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-8% vs national median317 grads tracked

Design and Applied Arts at Sam Houston State University

Ranked 72nd of 135 bachelor's programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$37,756
middle 50%: $28,859 – $48,860
Median · 5 years out
$53,673
middle 50%: $40,471 – $68,609
Median · 10 years out
$65,297
middle 50%: $49,482 – $87,772

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 Sam Houston State University's bachelor's program in Design and Applied Arts earn a median $37,756 one year after graduating, rising to $65,297 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 8% below the national median of $58,393 for this field, ranking 72nd 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
7.8 yrs
≈ $9,146 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Missouri - Saint Louis
$55,464 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Queens College
$55,464 · 5 yrs out
Radford University
$55,444 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
$55,307 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Commonwealth University
$54,230 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota State University Moorhead
$53,776 · 5 yrs out
Appalachian State University
$53,512 · 5 yrs out
Longwood University
$53,343 · 5 yrs out
Bowling Green State University
$53,339 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
$53,320 · 5 yrs out
Salem State University
$53,279 · 5 yrs out
Georgia Southern University
$53,064 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Sam Houston State University

Psychology (Doctorate)
$115,506 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$108,971 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$107,743 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$104,899 · 5 yrs out
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (Bachelor's)
$94,427 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Doctorate)
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)
$90,139 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$90,083 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Master's)
$87,772 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Master's)
$86,568 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$83,343 · 5 yrs out

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