Design and Applied Arts at New Jersey Institute of Technology

NJIT's design program stands out in New Jersey's landscape, with graduates earning $48,950 four years out—nearly double what most state competitors deliver. Among the 13 schools offering this degree in New Jersey, NJIT ranks in the 80th percentile, meaning only a handful of programs produce better-earning graduates. That's noteworthy for a tech-focused school branching into the arts.

The debt picture reinforces this value: at $27,000, it matches the state median while producing significantly higher returns. First-year earnings of $38,975 cover the debt load reasonably well (0.69 ratio), and the 26% earnings bump by year four suggests graduates find their footing rather than plateau early. Nationally, this program performs even better—75th percentile—proving NJIT's design grads compete beyond state borders.

The critical caveat here is sample size: fewer than 30 graduates means these numbers could swing considerably year to year. One cohort landing strong positions could inflate the median; one tough year could tank it. But the fundamentals make sense—a design program housed within a STEM-oriented school likely emphasizes user experience, digital design, or other technical skills that command higher wages than traditional studio arts. For a student confident they want design work and comfortable with a smaller program, this looks like one of New Jersey's strongest bets for turning an arts degree into reliable income.