Design and Applied Arts at Bemidji State University

Bemidji State's Design and Applied Arts program launches graduates to initial earnings 20% above the national median for this field, though the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift considerably year to year. At $40,231 first-year earnings and $27,000 in debt, graduates face a manageable debt burden—they're borrowing less than 70% of first-year salary, which is reasonable for a creative field where earnings can be unpredictable.

What's puzzling is the earnings dip to $37,053 by year four. This could reflect graduates pursuing freelance work, relocating to lower cost-of-living areas in northern Minnesota, or simply the volatility you'd expect with such limited data. Within Minnesota, this program sits solidly in the middle of the pack—better than half the state's design programs but trailing larger metropolitan options like the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities by about $2,000 initially.

For families comfortable with Bemidji's location and smaller cohort sizes, this represents a relatively low-risk creative degree. The debt is contained, initial earnings are competitive, and graduates appear to find work quickly. Just recognize that the small sample makes these figures less reliable than data from larger programs, and the earnings trajectory suggests income may not grow dramatically in those early career years.