Design and Applied Arts at Marymount University

Marymount's Design and Applied Arts graduates start slow but accelerate quickly—earnings jump 54% from $33,180 to $51,014 between years one and four. That trajectory matters more than the below-average starting point. While graduates initially earn less than the state median ($33,638), they surpass strong in-state competitors like Virginia Tech by year four. The debt load of $27,000 is manageable, especially given that earnings growth, translating to a comfortable 0.81 debt-to-earnings ratio.

The weak spot is that 40th percentile ranking among Virginia programs—this isn't a top-tier regional performer out of the gate. But context matters: several higher-ranked programs (VCU, Liberty) never catch up to Marymount's four-year mark. The question becomes whether your child can afford to earn less than $3,000 monthly in year one while building toward that stronger mid-career position. The 81% admission rate and lower Pell enrollment suggest this serves students with more financial cushion.

For families who can support a graduate through that initial earning period, this program delivers solid returns. The earnings trajectory indicates Marymount's design curriculum and Arlington location create real momentum in the job market—just not immediately.