Design and Applied Arts at The College of Saint Rose

Saint Rose's Design and Applied Arts program shows remarkably strong outcomes despite its modest selectivity. Graduates earn $43,418 in their first year—outperforming 80% of New York design programs and 91% nationally. That's 36% above the state median and nearly 30% above the national median. Only Syracuse's significantly more selective program does better among New York schools. The $27,000 median debt is manageable, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62 that most families can handle, and earnings climb to nearly $56,000 by year four.

The caveat here matters: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual experiences likely vary more than these numbers suggest. A few high earners could be skewing the picture upward. However, the consistency across both the earnings rankings and the reasonable debt levels suggests this isn't just statistical noise. The school serves a substantial population of Pell-eligible students (39%) yet still produces these strong outcomes.

For families willing to navigate the small-sample uncertainty, this represents one of New York's better bets for a design degree. The combination of moderate debt, above-average earnings, and solid growth trajectory makes the program worth serious consideration—just recognize you're working with limited data and should talk to recent graduates if possible.