WhatGradsMake
Associate-17% vs national median297 grads tracked

Design and Applied Arts at Northwest College

Ranked 111th of 124 associate programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$27,962
middle 50%: $21,945 – $36,903
Median · 5 years out
$35,966
middle 50%: $28,710 – $44,747
Median · 10 years out
$43,561
middle 50%: $31,827 – $60,219

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 Northwest College's associate program in Design and Applied Arts earn a median $27,962 one year after graduating, rising to $43,561 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 17% below the national median of $43,216 for this field, ranking 111th 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
11.9 yrs
≈ $14,505 total interest

Same major at other universities

Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 7
$36,674 · 5 yrs out
SOWELA Technical Community College
$36,591 · 5 yrs out
Rend Lake College
$36,560 · 5 yrs out
Moraine Valley Community College
$36,560 · 5 yrs out
Texas State Technical College
$36,368 · 5 yrs out
Clark State College
$36,322 · 5 yrs out
Central Virginia Community College
$35,528 · 5 yrs out
Iowa Lakes Community College
$35,495 · 5 yrs out
Adirondack Community College - SUNY Office of Community Colleges
$35,269 · 5 yrs out
Finger Lakes Community College - SUNY Office of Community Colleges
$35,263 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 12
$35,253 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Broome Community College
$34,840 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Northwest College

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs (Certificate)
$79,471 · 5 yrs out
Journalism (Certificate)
$79,471 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Associate)
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Associate)
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$73,904 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$70,641 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate)
$65,986 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Associate)
$60,272 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Associate)
$60,272 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Certificate)
$57,471 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$57,471 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate)
$49,659 · 5 yrs out

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