Design and Applied Arts at Queens University of Charlotte

Queens University of Charlotte's design program graduates start at $31,611—roughly $3,000 below both the national and North Carolina medians. Among the state's 26 design programs, this ranks at the 40th percentile, meaning six in ten comparable programs produce higher first-year earnings. The debt load of $27,000 isn't excessive (actually slightly above the state's $25,000 median), but paired with below-average starting salaries, it creates a tighter financial picture than programs at NC State ($45k) or even East Carolina ($40k).

The 23% earnings growth to $39,016 by year four offers some relief, though this still lags behind top state performers. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.85 sits in reasonable territory—graduates should be able to manage these payments with careful budgeting. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could swing significantly with just a few different outcomes, making this data less reliable than programs with larger graduating classes.

For a family paying private school tuition, these outcomes warrant serious comparison shopping. North Carolina offers several public universities with stronger design program performance at lower cost. Unless Queens provides specific advantages—like unique industry connections in Charlotte's design sector or teaching approaches that justify the investment—state schools present clearer value for a design degree.