Location: Mishawaka, IN•In-State Tuition: $33,320•Admission Rate: 99%•Avg SAT: 1073
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$35,439
Est. from IN median (7 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$22,000
Est. from IN median (3 programs)

Analysis

A debt load of $22,000 for a Design and Applied Arts degree sounds manageable until you consider the limited room for error. Similar programs in Indiana typically produce first-year earnings around $35,400—just slightly above the national median for this field—which translates to a monthly take-home pay barely sufficient to cover basic expenses plus loan payments. That 0.62 debt-to-earnings ratio sits in reasonable territory, but it assumes steady employment in a field where freelance work and contract positions are common, making that predictable monthly income harder to count on.

What's concerning is how compressed the ceiling appears to be. Even top programs in Indiana like Notre Dame and Purdue push graduates only to the mid-$40,000s in their first year. The difference between Bethel's estimated outcome and these more selective schools is roughly $10,000 annually—meaningful, but not transformative. For context, 35% of Bethel students receive Pell grants, suggesting many families here are counting on this degree to create economic mobility that the earnings data doesn't strongly support.

The estimation here matters more than usual: with such a small sample that outcomes can't be reported, parents should verify whether Bethel's program has the faculty resources, equipment, and industry connections to match the state median. Ask directly about graduate placement rates and whether the program has specific strengths—graphic design, UX work, animation—that command higher starting salaries than general applied arts roles.

Where Bethel University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all design and applied arts bachelors's programs nationally

Bethel University (estimated ±10%)Other design and applied arts programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Indiana

Design and Applied Arts bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Indiana (23 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Bethel UniversityMishawaka$33,320$35,439*—$22,000*—
University of Notre DameNotre Dame$62,693$46,825*$65,839$20,250*0.43
Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette$9,992$44,602*$49,180$20,250*0.45
Ball State UniversityMuncie$10,758$36,864*—$22,000*0.60
University of Saint Francis-Fort WayneFort Wayne$35,420$35,439*$39,179$27,000*0.76
Taylor UniversityUpland$39,104$31,921*—$22,000*0.69
National Median—$33,563*—$26,880*0.80
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with design and applied arts graduates

Art Directors

Formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual productions and media, such as print, broadcasting, video, and film. Direct workers engaged in artwork or layout design.

$111,040/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Special Effects Artists and Animators

Create special effects or animations using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials.

$99,800/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Web and Digital Interface Designers

Design digital user interfaces or websites. Develop and test layouts, interfaces, functionality, and navigation menus to ensure compatibility and usability across browsers or devices. May use web framework applications as well as client-side code and processes. May evaluate web design following web and accessibility standards, and may analyze web use metrics and optimize websites for marketability and search engine ranking. May design and test interfaces that facilitate the human-computer interaction and maximize the usability of digital devices, websites, and software with a focus on aesthetics and design. May create graphics used in websites and manage website content and links.

$95,380/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Video Game Designers

Design core features of video games. Specify innovative game and role-play mechanics, story lines, and character biographies. Create and maintain design documentation. Guide and collaborate with production staff to produce games as designed.

$95,380/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in architecture and architectural design, such as architectural environmental design, interior architecture/design, and landscape architecture. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in drama, music, and the arts including fine and applied art, such as painting and sculpture, or design and crafts. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Fashion Designers

Design clothing and accessories. Create original designs or adapt fashion trends.

$80,690/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Commercial and Industrial Designers

Design and develop manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and children's toys. Combine artistic talent with research on product use, marketing, and materials to create the most functional and appealing product design.

$79,450/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Set and Exhibit Designers

Design special exhibits and sets for film, video, television, and theater productions. May study scripts, confer with directors, and conduct research to determine appropriate architectural styles.

$66,280/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Interior Designers

Plan, design, and furnish the internal space of rooms or buildings. Design interior environments or create physical layouts that are practical, aesthetic, and conducive to the intended purposes. May specialize in a particular field, style, or phase of interior design.

$63,490/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Graphic Designers

Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects.

$61,300/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Artists and Related Workers, All Other

All artists and related workers not listed separately.

$56,260/yrJobs growth:
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Bethel University, approximately 35% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 7 similar programs in IN. Actual outcomes may vary.