WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's0% vs national median594 grads tracked

Design and Applied Arts at West Virginia University

Ranked 48th of 135 bachelor's programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$37,094
middle 50%: $28,602 – $47,240
Median · 5 years out
$58,393
middle 50%: $42,723 – $74,188
Median · 10 years out
$76,015
middle 50%: $54,267 – $104,398

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 West Virginia University's bachelor's program in Design and Applied Arts earn a median $37,094 one year after graduating, rising to $76,015 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 0% above the national median of $58,393 for this field, ranking 48th 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
7.3 yrs
≈ $8,716 total interest

Same major at other universities

Judson University
$58,858 · 5 yrs out
Texas State University
$58,736 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Farmingdale
$58,701 · 5 yrs out
Oregon State University
$58,688 · 5 yrs out
Kent State University
$58,644 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Dallas
$58,559 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Chicago
$58,150 · 5 yrs out
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
$58,150 · 5 yrs out
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
$57,938 · 5 yrs out
Oklahoma State University
$57,791 · 5 yrs out
Brigham Young University - Idaho
$57,769 · 5 yrs out
Ohio University
$57,562 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at West Virginia University

Dentistry (Doctorate)
$165,016 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$156,627 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$152,069 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$150,321 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$143,232 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$128,840 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$122,766 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$117,305 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$113,771 · 5 yrs out
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's)
$112,107 · 5 yrs out
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's)
$111,311 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$109,203 · 5 yrs out

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