Design and Applied Arts at Dominican University

Dominican University's Design and Applied Arts program starts with notably low first-year earnings—just $22,938, placing it in the bottom 5% nationally and well below the Illinois state median of $30,083. While the debt load of $26,978 sits near typical levels for this field, that first-year salary means graduates earn less than their debt total, creating an uncomfortable financial squeeze right when loan payments begin. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) makes these figures less reliable, but the gap between this program and comparable Illinois schools is striking—graduates from Illinois State, for instance, start around $16,000 higher.

The one bright spot is substantial earnings growth: incomes climb 70% to $39,095 by year four, eventually surpassing the state median. This suggests graduates who stick with the field do find their footing. However, that first year matters tremendously for new graduates managing rent, loans, and basic expenses on an income that's barely above minimum wage levels. For Dominican's tuition, which serves a student body where nearly half receive Pell grants, these outcomes warrant serious consideration.

If your child is set on design at Dominican, understand they'll likely need family support or a second income source during that first year. The earnings trajectory improves, but the financial strain early on could derail even talented graduates. Looking at Illinois State or UIUC might be worth the application effort for more stable starting prospects.