Design and Applied Arts at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

Indiana design programs cluster tightly around $35,000 in first-year earnings, and based on comparable programs in the state, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods likely fits this pattern. That puts graduates roughly on par with the state median—solid middle ground, though well behind what Notre Dame ($46,825) and Purdue ($44,602) produce for their design grads. The estimated $22,000 debt load is notably lower than the national median of $26,880, which helps the financial picture considerably.

The 0.62 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable repayment: borrowers would owe about 62 cents for every dollar earned in that first year. For a creative field where earnings often grow with portfolio development and client relationships, starting with below-average debt matters. The college serves a population where half receive Pell grants, so keeping borrowing reasonable is particularly important for students without family financial cushions.

The uncertainty here cuts both ways. This program's actual outcomes could exceed state averages—or fall short. What's clear is that $35,000 represents the typical starting point for Indiana design graduates, and the estimated debt burden won't sink graduates before they have a chance to establish themselves professionally. For families evaluating this program, the question isn't whether it matches elite outcomes—it demonstrably doesn't—but whether moderate debt paired with typical state earnings creates a workable path forward.