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
Design and Applied Arts associate degrees start at a $28.5k median salary. This grows to $46.5k by the tenth year.
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
Purdue University Fort Wayne
$41,019 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Western Community College
$41,019 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 2
$40,994 · 5 yrs out
Sinclair Community College
$40,920 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
$40,906 · 5 yrs out
Monroe Community College
$40,883 · 5 yrs out
Lane Community College
$40,729 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota State Community and Technical College
$40,439 · 5 yrs out
Rockland Community College
$40,342 · 5 yrs out
San Antonio College
$40,067 · 5 yrs out
Metropolitan Community College
$40,018 · 5 yrs out
Mt. Hood Community College
$39,919 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Tidewater Community College
Engineering (Associate)
$81,090 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Associate)
$81,090 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$80,325 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$78,072 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$76,554 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$74,996 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$74,643 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate)
$74,643 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate)
$72,218 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$69,841 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$69,536 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$68,695 · 5 yrs out