Design and Applied Arts at Sessions College for Professional Design

Sessions College graduates start at just $19,275—ranking in the bottom 10th percentile among Arizona's design programs and well below both the state median ($28,976) and national average ($27,846). The debt load of $27,678 nearly matches a full year's starting salary, creating immediate financial strain that's unusual even for creative fields where lower early earnings are common.

The 64% earnings jump to $31,633 by year four suggests graduates eventually find their footing, but that still only brings them slightly above where most design students start. Compare this to Scottsdale Community College's design program, where graduates earn $38,676—$19,000 more than Sessions grads make even after four years in the field. The debt burden here is particularly problematic: while Sessions' graduates carry typical debt for Arizona design programs, their earnings are far too low to manage it comfortably.

The very small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift dramatically, but right now the data suggests this program leaves students financially vulnerable for years. If your child is considering this route, the online format and specialized focus need to translate into substantially better outcomes than what recent graduates have experienced.