Design and Applied Arts at Carthage College

Carthage College's Design and Applied Arts program sits in an uncomfortable middle ground: it performs better than most programs nationally but lags behind Wisconsin competitors. While graduates earn $35,511 in their first year—above the national median of $33,563—they're making less than the typical Wisconsin design graduate ($36,216). More concerning, this program ranks in just the 40th percentile statewide, meaning six out of ten Wisconsin design programs deliver better early earnings.

The debt picture looks reasonable at $27,000, which matches both the Wisconsin and national medians. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76, graduates face a manageable burden compared to many creative fields. The 19% earnings growth to $42,358 by year four is decent, though you're still looking at five-figure salaries well into your career. For context, Wisconsin's flagship programs at Madison and Stevens Point produce graduates earning $8,000-$10,000 more annually right out of the gate.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could swing significantly year to year. If your student is set on Carthage for other reasons—location, campus culture, financial aid package—this program won't saddle them with crushing debt. But if maximizing early career earnings matters, the state's public universities offer stronger returns in this field without significantly different debt loads.