Design and Applied Arts at Bellevue University

Bellevue University's Design and Applied Arts program charges slightly more than typical—graduates carry about $4,000 more debt than the Nebraska median—but delivers outcomes that justify the premium. Starting earnings of $39,313 beat 76% of design programs nationally and edge past Nebraska's median of $38,949. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76 is considerably better than what most art and design graduates face, making the loan burden manageable from day one.

The 11% earnings growth over four years is modest but steady, pushing graduates to $43,716—a solid trajectory for a creative field where income often depends on building portfolios and client bases. While Nebraska's design job market is limited compared to coastal creative hubs, this program holds its own within the state, landing in the 60th percentile among local options and essentially matching University of Nebraska-Lincoln's outcomes.

For parents weighing this investment, the math works: your child enters a creative field with debt they can realistically handle while earning above the national average for design graduates. The premium cost buys better-than-average placement, though families should recognize that Nebraska's smaller creative economy may eventually push ambitious designers to relocate for higher earnings.