Design and Applied Arts at Susquehanna University

Susquehanna's design program punches well above its weight in a state dominated by powerhouse art schools. With first-year earnings of $42,510, graduates here earn 30% more than the typical Pennsylvania design graduate and rank in the 80th percentile statewide—placing them ahead of programs at Drexel and Kutztown, though still behind Carnegie Mellon's elite outcomes. The $27,000 debt load sits right at the state median, resulting in a manageable 0.64 debt-to-earnings ratio that's better than three-quarters of design programs nationally.

The earnings trajectory is particularly encouraging: graduates see 27% income growth by year four, reaching $53,795. This suggests employers value what Susquehanna's students bring to the table, even as the school maintains a 79% admission rate and serves a more accessible student population than Pennsylvania's most selective institutions.

The major caveat here is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates means one exceptional outcome (or one struggling grad) can skew the numbers significantly. However, the pattern of strong initial placement combined with solid earnings growth suggests something real is working. For a family seeking an affordable liberal arts environment where a design student can actually launch a viable career, this program delivers measurably better outcomes than most alternatives in Pennsylvania.