Design and Applied Arts at Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale

Among Florida's 17 design and applied arts associate programs, Keiser-Ft Lauderdale ranks near the bottom at the 10th percentile—meaning 90% of comparable Florida programs report higher earnings. First-year graduates earn just $20,360, falling well below both the state median ($30,906) and the national median ($27,846). Even nearby community colleges like Palm Beach State and Miami Dade see their graduates earning 50-80% more. The debt picture compounds the problem: at nearly $25,000, borrowing costs significantly outpace that first-year salary.

The 23% earnings growth over four years brings graduates to $25,086, but that's still roughly $6,000 below what peers at Florida's median program earn right out of the gate. For context, nearly 60% of Keiser students receive Pell grants, suggesting many come from families with limited financial cushion to absorb underwhelming outcomes. When community college alternatives deliver substantially better earnings with comparable or lower debt, the value proposition becomes difficult to justify.

If your child is set on design education in South Florida, explore the public college options first. The earnings gap here isn't marginal—it's the difference between financial struggle and a sustainable start to a creative career.