Design and Applied Arts at Bryant & Stratton College-Syracuse North

This program outpaces most Design and Applied Arts programs in New York, landing in the 60th percentile statewide—a meaningful advantage when the state median sits at just $23,000. The first-year earnings of $25,500 start modest, but that 45% jump to nearly $37,000 by year four suggests graduates are building marketable skills that translate into better opportunities. With debt at $17,500 (about half that first-year salary), the financial burden is manageable compared to what many art and design graduates carry.

The small sample size here—fewer than 30 graduates—means these numbers could shift significantly with more data, so treat them as directional rather than definitive. Still, the pattern is encouraging: graduates appear to be gaining traction in the job market rather than plateauing early. For a program serving predominantly Pell-eligible students (65%), this upward trajectory matters. The debt load isn't trivial, but it's not crushing either.

If your child is seriously interested in design work and prefers staying in New York, this program performs better than two-thirds of in-state alternatives. Just recognize that even the strong four-year earnings of $37,000 won't lead to affluence—this is a practical path into the creative industries, not a high-earning launch pad.