Location: Maryville, TN•In-State Tuition: $38,514•Admission Rate: 66%•Avg SAT: 1181
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$35,119
Est. from TN median (6 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$27,000
Est. from national median (108 programs)

Analysis

Looking at what similar programs in Tennessee produce, the estimated $35,119 first-year salary for design graduates aligns right at the state median—though it trails the region's stronger programs at UT-Chattanooga ($42,000) and MTSU ($39,000) by $3,700 to $6,800 annually. The estimated $27,000 debt burden sits slightly above the Tennessee median for these programs, yielding a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77. That's not alarming, but it means working off about nine months of gross pay before taxes.

The challenge here is that we're working entirely with estimates from peer institutions rather than Maryville's actual graduate outcomes, which the DOE suppresses due to small sample sizes. For a field where portfolio quality, software skills, and design specialization dramatically affect earning potential, knowing whether graduates land corporate design roles or freelance gigs matters more than state averages can tell you. The fact that one Tennessee school (Belmont) shows first-year earnings below $29,000 while another (UT-Chattanooga) exceeds $41,000 illustrates how much variation exists even within the same state.

Before committing, find out where Maryville's design graduates actually work and what specific design tracks they pursue. With only estimates to go on, you're betting that this small program performs at least as well as the average Tennessee design school—a reasonable baseline assumption, but one that deserves verification through direct contact with the department about recent graduate placements.

Where Maryville College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all design and applied arts bachelors's programs nationally

Maryville College (estimated ±10%)Other design and applied arts programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Tennessee

Design and Applied Arts bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Tennessee (14 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Maryville CollegeMaryville$38,514$35,119*—$27,000*—
The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaChattanooga$10,144$41,968*—$25,000*0.60
Middle Tennessee State UniversityMurfreesboro$9,506$38,807*——*—
The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville$13,484$36,061*$43,320—*—
East Tennessee State UniversityJohnson City$9,950$34,177*—$19,250*0.56
Belmont UniversityNashville$41,320$28,702*$41,993$27,000*0.94
National Median—$33,563*—$26,880*0.80
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with design and applied arts graduates

Art Directors

Formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual productions and media, such as print, broadcasting, video, and film. Direct workers engaged in artwork or layout design.

$111,040/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Special Effects Artists and Animators

Create special effects or animations using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials.

$99,800/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Web and Digital Interface Designers

Design digital user interfaces or websites. Develop and test layouts, interfaces, functionality, and navigation menus to ensure compatibility and usability across browsers or devices. May use web framework applications as well as client-side code and processes. May evaluate web design following web and accessibility standards, and may analyze web use metrics and optimize websites for marketability and search engine ranking. May design and test interfaces that facilitate the human-computer interaction and maximize the usability of digital devices, websites, and software with a focus on aesthetics and design. May create graphics used in websites and manage website content and links.

$95,380/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Video Game Designers

Design core features of video games. Specify innovative game and role-play mechanics, story lines, and character biographies. Create and maintain design documentation. Guide and collaborate with production staff to produce games as designed.

$95,380/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in architecture and architectural design, such as architectural environmental design, interior architecture/design, and landscape architecture. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in drama, music, and the arts including fine and applied art, such as painting and sculpture, or design and crafts. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Fashion Designers

Design clothing and accessories. Create original designs or adapt fashion trends.

$80,690/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Commercial and Industrial Designers

Design and develop manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and children's toys. Combine artistic talent with research on product use, marketing, and materials to create the most functional and appealing product design.

$79,450/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Set and Exhibit Designers

Design special exhibits and sets for film, video, television, and theater productions. May study scripts, confer with directors, and conduct research to determine appropriate architectural styles.

$66,280/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Interior Designers

Plan, design, and furnish the internal space of rooms or buildings. Design interior environments or create physical layouts that are practical, aesthetic, and conducive to the intended purposes. May specialize in a particular field, style, or phase of interior design.

$63,490/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Graphic Designers

Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects.

$61,300/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Artists and Related Workers, All Other

All artists and related workers not listed separately.

$56,260/yrJobs growth:
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Maryville College, approximately 35% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 6 similar programs in TN. Actual outcomes may vary.