Design and Applied Arts at Indiana University-Bloomington

Indiana University-Bloomington's Design and Applied Arts program shows a troubling disconnect between its first-year outcomes and the university's reputation. Fresh graduates earn just $26,421—placing them in the bottom quarter of design programs both nationally (18th percentile) and within Indiana (25th percentile). This initial salary falls significantly below both the state median of $35,439 and the national benchmark of $33,563. Even Purdue grads in the same field start at $44,602, nearly 70% higher.

The 75% earnings jump to $46,308 by year four suggests graduates eventually find their footing, but that still leaves them barely ahead of where Ball State graduates start. The debt load of $21,064 is manageable, but when measured against that first-year salary, you're looking at nearly an entire year's earnings before taxes—a tough financial reality during those crucial early career years. For context, Notre Dame's design program places graduates at nearly double IU's initial salary with similar debt burdens.

For families paying out-of-state tuition at IU-Bloomington, this data should prompt serious questions. The program may ultimately lead to decent mid-career earnings, but the weak launch means your child will likely struggle financially right when student loan payments begin. In-state families might find better value at Ball State or even regional schools that match IU's outcomes at lower cost.