Design and Applied Arts at Suffolk University

Suffolk's Design and Applied Arts program punches well above its weight class, placing graduates in the 95th percentile both nationally and among Massachusetts programs—a rare achievement that deserves attention. With first-year earnings of $47,415, graduates out-earn their peers at most comparable schools by roughly $15,000 annually, matching outcomes from far more selective institutions like Northeastern and Boston University. The $27,000 median debt produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.57, meaning graduates owe about seven months of their annual salary—a manageable burden that positions them well for financial stability.

The 24% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests graduates are building marketable skills that translate into career advancement. For context, the typical Massachusetts design graduate starts around $31,000, making Suffolk's outcomes nearly 53% higher. This gap matters considerably when considering student loan payments and cost of living in Boston. The program appears to benefit from proximity to the city's design, advertising, and tech sectors, creating pathways that many regional programs can't match.

For families weighing Suffolk's tuition against state schools or lesser-known private options, these outcomes justify the investment. Your child would be entering a program whose graduates demonstrably compete with those from elite institutions, without the crushing debt loads that sometimes accompany top-tier schools. The sample size is moderate rather than small, lending confidence to these figures.