Design and Applied Arts at Marist University

The standout story here is dramatic income growth: Marist's design graduates see their earnings more than double from year one to year four, jumping from $28,336 to $66,343. That fourth-year figure substantially outpaces both the national and New York state medians, suggesting graduates who stick with design careers can reach strong earning potential. The first-year earnings lag behind—placing in just the 40th percentile among New York programs—but the trajectory matters more than the starting point.

The $26,929 in debt is right at the national median for this program, and with that 134% earnings growth, the debt becomes quite manageable by year four. The challenging first year (with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.95) appears to be the norm for design fields rather than a Marist-specific issue. What's notable is how quickly Marist graduates move past that entry-level phase, eventually earning well above what graduates from higher-ranked New York programs like Pratt Institute and Russell Sage College make.

For families concerned about immediate post-graduation finances, understand that year one will be tight—many design graduates take lower-paying internships or junior positions. But if your student is committed to building a design career and can weather that initial period, the data suggests Marist's program develops skills that command significantly higher compensation as graduates gain experience. The moderate sample size means some variation is possible, but the earnings trajectory is compelling enough to outweigh typical first-year concerns for this field.