WhatGradsMake
Associate-6% vs national median361 grads tracked

Design and Applied Arts at Tidewater Community College

Ranked 64th of 124 associate programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$28,458
middle 50%: $21,210 – $39,655
Median · 5 years out
$40,497
middle 50%: $28,347 – $52,778
Median · 10 years out
$46,532
middle 50%: $31,732 – $59,517

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

Graduates of Tidewater Community College's associate program in Design and Applied Arts earn a median $28,458 one year after graduating, rising to $46,532 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 6% below the national median of $43,216 for this field, ranking 64th of 124 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
10.8 yrs
≈ $13,070 total interest

Same major at other universities

Other majors at Tidewater Community College

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