Design and Applied Arts at New England Institute of Technology

The modest $29,167 debt load here—less than what most Design and Applied Arts graduates carry nationally—tells only half the story. At $27,383 one year out, graduates earn nearly $2,000 less than Rhode Island's median for this field and roughly $6,000 below the national benchmark. That 22nd percentile national ranking signals real earning challenges compared to similar programs elsewhere, even if the debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.07 stays manageable in the short term.

Rhode Island's limited design market offers few alternatives, with only four programs statewide and even prestigious Rhode Island School of Design producing first-year earnings just $2,000 higher. Still, ranking in the 40th percentile within the state means this program sits squarely in the middle tier locally while underperforming nationally. For families banking on design careers to justify college investment, the immediate post-graduation earnings may feel uncomfortably close to what many entry-level jobs offer without a degree.

If your child is passionate about design and wants to stay in Rhode Island, this program won't saddle them with crushing debt. But the earnings trajectory needs scrutiny—creative fields often start low and build slowly, which works only if living costs stay lean and family support remains available during those lean early years. The nearly 44% Pell Grant rate suggests many students here face genuine financial pressure that $27,000 salaries won't easily relieve.