Design and Applied Arts at Judson University

Judson's Design and Applied Arts program produces first-year earnings of $37,466, which outperforms most creative arts programs in Illinois and beats the national median by nearly $4,000. That's a meaningful advantage in a field where many graduates struggle to clear $30,000 initially. With estimated debt around $27,000—based on typical borrowing patterns at similar Illinois private schools—the debt-to-earnings ratio sits at a manageable 0.72, well below the concerning 1.0 threshold where loan repayment becomes burdensome.

What's striking is that Judson's graduates earn more than those from much larger institutions like DePaul and University of Illinois Chicago, despite Judson's modest SAT averages and open-ish admission rate. This suggests the program may offer strong industry connections or practical training that translates quickly into employable skills. The 40% Pell grant population indicates the school successfully serves economically diverse students, many of whom are landing in the upper half of design career outcomes nationally.

The caveat: that $27,000 debt figure is an estimate, not actual data from Judson graduates, so individual borrowing could vary. But even if debt ran a few thousand higher, the earnings cushion here provides meaningful breathing room. For families considering a creative field where earnings often lag, this program shows competitive outcomes without the financial strain common to arts degrees at private colleges.