Location: Bowling Green, OH•In-State Tuition: $14,081•Out-of-State Tuition: $22,070•Admission Rate: 81%•Avg SAT: 1118
Median Earnings (1yr)
$35,645
60th percentile
80th percentile in Ohio
Median Debt
$27,000
At national median
D/E Ratio: 0.76 ManageableSample: 93 graduates

Analysis

Bowling Green's Design and Applied Arts program stands out sharply in Ohio, placing in the 80th percentile statewide—significantly ahead of the state's $26,464 median. While the $35,645 starting salary won't impress compared to STEM fields, it's actually $9,000 more than the typical Ohio design graduate earns. The $27,000 debt load sits right at national norms but represents just 0.76 times first-year earnings, a manageable ratio that many creative programs struggle to achieve.

The earnings trajectory looks healthy: graduates see 25% income growth by year four, reaching $44,382. That's real momentum in a field where many programs show stagnant wages. Yes, top Ohio programs like Cincinnati and Miami deliver substantially higher earnings, but they're also more selective institutions. For an 81% admission rate school, Bowling Green punches above its weight.

This program makes sense for Ohio families who want their creative student at a state school without sacrificing earning potential. The debt is reasonable, outcomes beat most in-state alternatives, and the moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) suggests consistent results rather than a statistical fluke. If your child is committed to design work and realistic about creative field salaries, this represents solid value—especially compared to pricier private art schools that often leave graduates with double the debt.

Where Bowling Green State University-Main Campus Stands

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

Bowling Green State University-Main CampusOther design and applied arts programs

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

Earnings Distribution

How Bowling Green State University-Main Campus graduates compare to all programs nationally

Bowling Green State University-Main Campus earns $36k — 60th percentile among design and applied arts bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus$35,645$44,382+25%
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus$52,526$56,482+8%
Ohio State University-Main Campus$45,176$56,414+25%
Miami University-Oxford$47,295$54,530+15%
University of Akron Main Campus$39,856$51,028+28%

Compare to Similar Programs in Ohio

Design and Applied Arts bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Ohio (42 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Bowling Green State University-Main CampusBowling Green$14,081$35,645$44,382$27,0000.76
University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati$13,570$52,526$56,482$25,8510.49
Miami University-OxfordOxford$17,809$47,295$54,530$26,0000.55
Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus$12,859$45,176$56,414$25,1000.56
University of DaytonDayton$47,600$43,609$50,910——
University of Akron Main CampusAkron$12,799$39,856$51,028$27,0000.68
National Median—$33,563—$26,8800.80

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 Bowling Green State University-Main Campus, approximately 23% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 93 graduates with reported earnings and 82 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.