Design and Applied Arts at Design Institute of San Diego

The Design Institute of San Diego's graduates earn modestly above both national and California medians for design programs, but the real story here is the debt load. At $45,687, graduates carry nearly double what most design students in California owe ($24,410 statewide median), placing this program in the 95th percentile for debt nationally—meaning only 5% of design programs leave students owing more.

That debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.32 means graduates owe significantly more than they'll earn in their first year. While $34,589 ranks this program in the 60th percentile among California design schools—performing better than many peers—the financial math remains challenging. Consider that UCLA's design graduates earn $57,615 with likely lower debt, or that Chapman graduates start at $46,519. Even programs with similar earnings tend to leave students with half the debt burden.

For families evaluating this investment, the core question is whether an 88% admission rate program justifies debt levels typically associated with highly selective schools. The earnings trajectory for design careers can improve over time, but starting with debt exceeding your annual salary creates immediate financial pressure. If your child has admission options at public universities or programs with stronger need-based aid, those routes deserve serious consideration before committing to this debt level.