Design and Applied Arts at Dallas College

Dallas College's Design and Applied Arts associate's program lands in an interesting middle ground for Texas students. While it outperforms 71% of similar programs nationally, it sits below the median among Texas schools—where it ranks at the 40th percentile. The first-year earning of $31,478 trails programs like Austin Community College ($40,289) and even nearby Collin County ($33,456), though it significantly beats the national median of $27,846.

The financial picture is manageable: at $11,835, the debt load is below both national and state averages, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38 that graduates could reasonably handle. More encouraging is the 28% earnings jump to $40,260 by year four, suggesting career momentum for those who stick with the field. However, keep in mind these figures come from a small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates—which means individual outcomes could vary more than usual.

For families comparing Texas community college options, this program offers solid national standing at a reasonable price, but it's not the state's strongest performer in design and applied arts. If your student is committed to staying in the Dallas area, the lower debt makes this a defensible choice despite the earnings gap with some competitors.