Design and Applied Arts at MidAmerica Nazarene University

Similar design programs in Kansas suggest this bachelor's degree produces first-year earnings around $35,500, roughly matching the state median but falling well short of what Kansas State ($44,000) and even KU ($37,500) graduates report earning. With an estimated $27,000 in debt, the 0.76 debt-to-earnings ratio looks manageable on paper, but the context matters: you're potentially borrowing the same amount as students at more competitive state universities while earning notably less.

The challenge with design degrees is that individual talent, portfolio quality, and networking often matter more than the credential itself. When peer programs show such wide variation—from $32,000 to $44,000 in first-year earnings within Kansas alone—it suggests that outcomes depend heavily on factors beyond the classroom. The limited graduate sample here (why the data is estimated rather than reported) might indicate a small program without the robust industry connections or alumni network that larger design schools offer.

For parents weighing this investment, the relatively modest debt load is encouraging, but paying private tuition for earnings that merely match the state average deserves scrutiny. If your student is drawn to MidAmerica Nazarene's faith-based environment specifically, that may justify the choice. Otherwise, the state's public universities appear to deliver stronger employment outcomes in this field, and you'd want clear evidence—through internship placements, alumni success stories, or faculty industry connections—that this smaller program can compete.