Design and Applied Arts at Indiana University-Indianapolis

Indiana's design programs typically launch graduates into the low-$30,000s, so estimated first-year earnings of $35,439 would place IU Indianapolis graduates slightly above that baseline. By year four, when earnings reach $46,418, the program catches up to Purdue's design graduates and nearly matches Notre Dame's—a trajectory that suggests the degree pays off more substantially once students establish themselves in the field.

The estimated $21,532 in debt, based on what similar Indiana University programs report, comes in below both state and national medians for design degrees. That creates a manageable 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio in year one—workable even on an entry-level creative salary. The real question is whether those estimated starting earnings hold true for this specific program, which currently lacks reported data due to small graduate cohorts.

Here's what matters: if your child lands closer to that $35,000 estimate initially, they'll be making debt payments of roughly $240 monthly on a tight but feasible budget. The four-year earnings figure suggests meaningful salary growth, but that first year or two will require either living frugally or supplementing income with freelance work—standard for most design fields. The university's 36% Pell population and accessible admissions suggest a supportive environment for students from various economic backgrounds, though you'll want to verify whether this program specifically provides the portfolio development and industry connections that justify the investment.