Design and Applied Arts at Ringling College of Art and Design

Ringling's Design and Applied Arts program starts slowly but shows promising momentum—first-year graduates earn $28,137, well below both the state median ($34,236) and what grads at Florida State earn ($49,144). However, by year four, earnings jump 53% to $43,045, moving graduates closer to competitive territory. The debt load of $27,000 matches Florida's median exactly, and the debt-to-earnings ratio under 1.0 means graduates can reasonably manage repayment even in that difficult first year.

Here's the challenge: this program ranks in just the 25th percentile both nationally and within Florida, meaning three-quarters of comparable design programs produce better early outcomes. Students at public universities like UF and FSU are earning $6,000-$21,000 more right out of the gate. With 67% of applicants admitted and only 21% receiving Pell grants, Ringling isn't offering the kind of financial aid that might offset its weaker positioning against state schools.

The strong earnings growth suggests graduates do find their footing in creative careers, but parents need to weigh whether paying private school tuition makes sense when Florida's public options deliver stronger returns from day one. If your child has a specific program at Ringling that isn't available at state schools, the trajectory improves enough to justify it—but for general design training, the public alternatives look more financially sound.