Design and Applied Arts at Coastal Carolina University

At $26,076 in first-year earnings, Coastal Carolina's design program produces outcomes that trail not just the national median ($33,563) but also every other design program in South Carolina with available data. Even within the state's relatively small market for art and design graduates, this program ranks in just the 25th percentile—meaning three-quarters of comparable SC programs deliver better returns. The gap with Clemson ($46,689) is stark, but even regional competitors like Anderson University ($34,040) show significantly stronger outcomes.

The $27,000 in typical debt creates an uncomfortable squeeze, resulting in a debt-to-earnings ratio that essentially equals one full year's salary. While earnings do grow 16% to $30,362 by year four, that's still $6,000 below the state median for design graduates. For a family weighing in-state options, programs at Winthrop or Bob Jones deliver substantially better financial trajectories with similar debt loads.

The bottom line: Unless your student has specific reasons to attend Coastal Carolina—perhaps a unique faculty relationship or scholarship that dramatically reduces the $27,000 debt burden—stronger alternatives exist within South Carolina's public university system. The combination of below-average earnings and full-price debt makes this a risky proposition for families without significant financial cushion.