WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)-11% vs national median146 grads tracked

Design and Applied Arts at South Plains College

Ranked 19th of 32 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$25,042
middle 50%: $18,366 – $33,372
Median · 5 years out
$38,305
middle 50%: $29,807 – $51,223
Median · 10 years out
n/a
not enough graduates to report

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Design and Applied Arts (certificate (under 1 year)) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of South Plains College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Design and Applied Arts earn a median $25,042 one year after graduating, rising to $38,305 by year five. Five years out, earnings run 11% below the national median of $43,227 for this field, ranking 19th of 32 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
12.7 yrs
≈ $15,151 total interest

Same major at other universities

Mt. Hood Community College
$42,505 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota State Community and Technical College
$41,887 · 5 yrs out
Des Moines Area Community College
$41,244 · 5 yrs out
Sinclair Community College
$40,944 · 5 yrs out
Austin Community College
$40,037 · 5 yrs out
Amarillo College
$39,950 · 5 yrs out
Greenville Technical College
$38,279 · 5 yrs out
San Antonio College
$38,101 · 5 yrs out
Cedar Valley College
$37,592 · 5 yrs out
Elgin Community College
$37,247 · 5 yrs out
Spartanburg Community College
$37,247 · 5 yrs out
Kilgore College
$35,325 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at South Plains College

Engineering (Associate)
$90,582 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Associate)
$90,582 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$87,772 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate)
$87,772 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$86,981 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$86,981 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$81,251 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$78,278 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$72,172 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Associate)
$70,298 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$67,403 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$66,891 · 5 yrs out

Related fields of study

Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
Compare universities
Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry
Compare universities
Dance
Compare universities
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Compare universities
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Compare universities
Fine and Studio Arts
Compare universities