Design and Applied Arts at Spokane Falls Community College

Spokane Falls' Design and Applied Arts program starts rough but improves significantly—graduates earn just $21,500 in their first year, well below both the Washington state median ($25,642) and the national average ($27,846). That places this program in the bottom quartile among Washington's 11 design programs. However, by year four, earnings jump 57% to reach $33,674, eventually surpassing many peer programs and approaching the national 75th percentile.

The debt load of $14,657 is fairly typical for associate-level design programs, but when stacked against those weak initial earnings, it creates a challenging first few years. New graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68—meaning they owe roughly eight months of their first-year salary. This suggests students may need additional support from family or a second job while building their portfolios and client bases.

The real question is what drives that year-four earnings jump. Design careers often require time to build freelance work or climb into better-paying roles, which could explain the trajectory. If your child can weather the lean early years—perhaps by living at home or working part-time—this program's eventual earnings become more defensible. But families should plan for a slow financial start, not immediate payoff.