Design and Applied Arts at Kennesaw State University

Starting near $26,000 is concerning for any bachelor's degree, but what makes this particularly troubling is the debt load. Kennesaw State's design program graduates carry $20,500 in debt—far less than the national median for this degree, yet their earnings fall 23% below what other design graduates make nationally. Within Georgia, they're essentially at the state median salary but with substantially lower debt than most competitors. The catch? This comparison includes powerhouse programs like Georgia Tech (where design grads earn $52,694) alongside struggling ones.

The real question is trajectory. First-year earnings of $25,839 means immediate financial strain—managing $20,500 in loans on that income will be tight. Most design careers do see salary growth, but you're betting on that upward movement to make the degree worthwhile. For context, even mid-tier state options like University of North Georgia start $1,000 higher, which compounds over time.

One critical caveat: these numbers come from fewer than 30 graduates, so they might not reflect typical outcomes. If your child is passionate about design and specifically wants Kennesaw State's program culture, the lower-than-average debt provides some cushion for risk. But financially, this looks like paying full college prices for below-market starting outcomes, hoping the career catches up later. Georgia offers stronger design programs at similar or lower debt levels.