Design and Applied Arts at Centenary University

Centenary's Design and Applied Arts program sits right at New Jersey's median for this field, which tells you something about the state's limited opportunities for design graduates. Starting at $26,569—about $7,000 below the national median—puts this program in the bottom fifth nationally, even as it ranks middle-of-the-pack among the state's 13 options. The debt load of $27,000 nearly matches first-year earnings, creating an immediate financial strain that takes years to ease.

The 14% earnings growth to $30,224 by year four shows some progression, but even this improved salary trails the typical starting point for design graduates nationally. Compare this trajectory to New Jersey Institute of Technology's design program, where graduates start at nearly $39,000, and the gap becomes stark. For a field where portfolio quality and networking often matter more than the institution's name, paying private university tuition at Centenary means starting behind graduates from larger public universities while carrying similar debt.

If your child is set on design and this is the accessible option, understand you're looking at several lean years post-graduation. The 97% acceptance rate reflects Centenary's open-door mission, but that doesn't translate to outsized earnings outcomes. Community college transfer or starting at a state school might preserve more financial flexibility for the graduate certificate or portfolio development that design careers often require.