Design and Applied Arts at Dunwoody College of Technology

Dunwoody's design program delivers first-year earnings of $40,302—outperforming 80% of similar programs nationally and putting graduates roughly on par with the University of Minnesota's design majors. That's a meaningful outcome in a field where the national median sits at just $33,563. With estimated debt around $27,000 based on similar programs nationally, the 0.67 debt-to-earnings ratio looks manageable for a creative field where many graduates start modestly.

The caveat: because Dunwoody's graduate sample is small, we're relying on estimated rather than reported debt figures. That said, the school's 98% admission rate and focus on hands-on technical training suggest it's accessible to a wide range of students, and the earnings data is actual—not estimated. At $40,302, graduates are earning more than their peers at most Minnesota design programs, trailing only the flagship Twin Cities campus by about $2,000.

For parents, this looks like solid value in a notoriously variable field. Design graduates often struggle to clear $30,000 in their first year; Dunwoody students are starting well above that threshold. The debt load appears reasonable, though confirm actual financial aid packages since the $27,000 figure is based on peer institutions. If your child is serious about applied design work and learns well in technical environments, this program delivers competitive early outcomes without the inflated debt that can plague art and design degrees.