Design and Applied Arts at Berkeley College-Woodland Park

Berkeley College-Woodland Park's Design and Applied Arts program lands squarely in the middle of New Jersey's options—literally at the state median for earnings—but significantly underperforms national benchmarks. That $27,937 first-year salary sits nearly $6,000 below what design graduates typically earn nationwide, though it's worth noting that New Jersey's design market appears generally softer than the national average.

The debt picture offers a silver lining: at just above $30,000, graduates here carry less debt than many peers, ranking in the 5th percentile nationally (meaning 95% of similar programs saddle students with more debt). With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.09, most graduates should be able to manage repayment, though it won't be comfortable on that initial salary. The school serves a predominantly lower-income population (60% receive Pell grants), making that relatively contained debt load particularly important.

However, parents should recognize that nearby alternatives deliver substantially higher returns. New Jersey Institute of Technology's design graduates earn $11,000 more in their first year—nearly 40% higher—while Kean and Rutgers also provide notably better outcomes. If your child is deciding between Berkeley College and these stronger programs, the earnings gap is significant enough to warrant choosing the higher-performing school, even if it means slightly higher upfront costs. Berkeley College works for students who need a flexible, accessible program, but this isn't where design graduates typically launch thriving careers.