Design and Applied Arts at Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Minneapolis College of Art and Design graduates earn $23,687 one year after completing this bachelor's degree—about $11,000 below the Minnesota median for design programs and in the bottom 10% statewide. While the debt load of $27,000 matches the state average, that's cold comfort when your child's first-year earnings sit 30% below what they'd likely make from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities ($42,462) or even regional state schools like Bemidji ($40,231).

The earnings do climb significantly—up 56% to $36,890 by year four—but that still leaves graduates below where many Minnesota design programs start. This isn't about crushing debt; it's about opportunity cost. Spending four years and $27,000 to earn less than $24,000 initially means your child will be playing catch-up financially while peers from other programs build savings and career momentum. The school's 40% Pell grant population suggests financial aid may help some families, but the underlying value proposition remains weak.

If your child is set on this school for its specific artistic community or faculty connections, understand you're paying a premium for the experience rather than the financial outcome. Minnesota offers multiple design programs that deliver stronger earnings with similar or lower debt—programs that would give your child both the creative education and a more viable financial foundation.