WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-5% vs national median765 grads tracked

Design and Applied Arts at Radford University

Ranked 68th of 135 bachelor's programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$39,734
middle 50%: $28,494 – $50,572
Median · 5 years out
$55,444
middle 50%: $42,501 – $72,750
Median · 10 years out
$65,577
middle 50%: $49,725 – $93,661

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 Radford University's bachelor's program in Design and Applied Arts earn a median $39,734 one year after graduating, rising to $65,577 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 5% below the national median of $58,393 for this field, ranking 68th 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
7.6 yrs
≈ $8,733 total interest

Same major at other universities

Iowa State University of Science & Technology
$55,987 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Stout
$55,974 · 5 yrs out
East Carolina University
$55,650 · 5 yrs out
Fitchburg State University
$55,520 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Saint Louis
$55,464 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Queens College
$55,464 · 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
Sam Houston State University
$53,673 · 5 yrs out
Appalachian State University
$53,512 · 5 yrs out
Longwood University
$53,343 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Radford University

Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$106,400 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Certificate)
$96,791 · 5 yrs out
Information Science/Studies (Certificate)
$96,791 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$88,398 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$87,544 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$86,530 · 5 yrs out
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's)
$82,573 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$78,720 · 5 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's)
$74,324 · 5 yrs out
Economics (Bachelor's)
$73,668 · 5 yrs out
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's)
$72,884 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)
$72,496 · 5 yrs out

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