Design and Applied Arts at Rasmussen University-Minnesota

Rasmussen's Design and Applied Arts associate's degree carries nearly double the typical debt load for this program—$28,722 versus a national median of just $14,454. That's the 95th percentile nationally for debt, meaning only 5% of similar programs leave students owing more. While the $32,246 first-year salary beats the national average and puts graduates in the 75th percentile nationally, it falls short within Minnesota, where the state median for this program is $36,048. Nearby community colleges like Minneapolis Community and Technical ($40,230) and Century College ($39,850) produce substantially higher earnings with lower debt.

The math here is straightforward but challenging: graduates owe nearly 90% of their first year's salary. That's manageable compared to some programs, but only because design salaries start relatively low across the board. For a family paying attention to Minnesota options, this program costs significantly more while delivering 11% less in earnings than the state median. The high proportion of Pell-eligible students (51%) suggests many families are taking on this debt with limited financial cushion.

If your child is committed to design and specifically wants Rasmussen's format, understand you're paying a premium without getting premium results. Minnesota's technical and community colleges offer a better financial path to the same career field.