Design and Applied Arts
Bachelor's degree · Art Center College of Design · Pasadena, CA
How this program compares
Graduates of the bachelor's degree program in Design and Applied Arts at Art Center College of Design earn a median of $47,053 one year after completing the program. Nationally, bachelor's degree graduates in this field earn a median of $51,490 four years after graduating (middle half: $33,006–$70,612). Median debt is $31,000, about 66% of first-year earnings.
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's degree) at other California schools
| College | Earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|
| University of Southern California Los Angeles | $64,846 | $18,000 |
| University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles | $57,615 | $19,000 |
| Interior Designers Institute Newport Beach | $51,188 | $26,057 |
| Chapman University Orange | $46,519 | $23,823 |
| California State University-Long Beach Long Beach | $37,395 | $16,500 |
| Newschool of Architecture and Design San Diego | $37,132 | $32,000 |
| California State University-Northridge Northridge | $36,736 | — |
| San Francisco State University San Francisco | $34,845 | $15,000 |
| Design Institute of San Diego San Diego | $34,589 | $44,191 |
| University of California-Davis Davis | $32,816 | $14,924 |
| California State University-Sacramento Sacramento | $32,240 | $15,750 |
| Woodbury University Burbank | $32,175 | $27,000 |
| University of San Francisco San Francisco | $32,070 | $27,000 |
| San Diego State University San Diego | $31,459 | $13,832 |
| Otis College of Art and Design Los Angeles | $31,172 | $27,000 |
Highest-paying Design and Applied Arts programs nationwide →
Other programs at Art Center College of Design
- Graphic CommunicationsBachelor's degree
$67,010 - Engineering-Related FieldsBachelor's degree
$66,860 - Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/TechniciansBachelor's degree
$59,384 - Film/Video and Photographic ArtsBachelor's degree
$22,988 - Architectural Sciences and TechnologyBachelor's degree
$77,401 - Fine and Studio ArtsBachelor's degree
$27,282 - Fine and Studio ArtsMaster's degree
$30,188
Frequently asked questions
How much do Design and Applied Arts graduates from Art Center College of Design make?
The median salary is $47,053 one year after graduation and $81,385 after five years.
How much student debt do graduates have?
Graduates who borrowed federal loans owe a median of $31,000.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release (Field of Study data). Earnings are for graduates who received federal financial aid.