Design and Applied Arts at Fashion Institute of Technology

FIT's Design and Applied Arts program presents a concerning initial value proposition: graduates start with below-average earnings at $27,023—ranking in just the 25th percentile among New York programs and 21st percentile nationally. This puts new graduates significantly behind peers at top state programs like Syracuse ($46,181) and even the New York median ($31,885). With $25,000 in debt, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.93 means graduates are carrying nearly a full year's salary in student loans right out of school.

However, this program's defining characteristic is dramatic earnings growth—income nearly doubles to $52,128 by year four, representing 93% growth. This trajectory suggests the program may be positioning students for career advancement rather than immediate high-paying positions. The relatively manageable debt load of $25,000 (slightly below both state and national medians) helps make this growth story viable, as graduates aren't drowning in payments during those crucial early career years.

The key question is whether your child can weather those lean first few years in an expensive city like New York. If they have family support or can secure paid internships to supplement that $27,000 starting salary, the long-term outlook becomes much more attractive. But families counting on immediate post-graduation income to justify the investment should look elsewhere—this is a program that pays off with patience, not immediately.