Design and Applied Arts at Saint Norbert College

Saint Norbert's Design and Applied Arts program outperforms most national competitors while keeping debt manageable, though the small graduate pool means these numbers could shift year to year. Earning $37,856 in year one places graduates above 70% of similar programs nationwide and at the 60th percentile within Wisconsin—solid positioning for a liberal arts college that admits most applicants.

The debt picture looks particularly favorable: $27,000 matches both the state and national median, but paired with above-average earnings, it creates a debt-to-income ratio of 0.71 that should allow graduates to manage payments without severe budget strain. However, Saint Norbert's graduates earn about $12,000 less than those from UW-Madison or UW-Stevens Point, which might matter if your child is considering multiple Wisconsin options and qualifies for in-state tuition at a public university.

The real caveat here is sample size—with fewer than 30 recent graduates tracked, one cohort landing strong design positions or struggling in a particular job market could dramatically alter these figures. The program delivers reasonable value if your child thrives in smaller academic settings and doesn't have strong public university alternatives, but recognize you're making this decision with limited visibility into typical outcomes.