Design and Applied Arts at The New School

The New School's Design and Applied Arts program starts with a jarring reality: graduates earn just $24,804 in their first year—nearly $9,000 below the New York state median and landing in the 12th percentile nationally. That's poverty-level income in one of America's most expensive cities, and the $26,000 in debt only compounds the challenge.

What makes this complicated is the dramatic earnings growth. By year four, median earnings jump to $53,334—a 115% increase that vaults graduates well above both state and national medians. This suggests the program may be preparing students for creative careers with delayed payoffs, where portfolio development and networking take time. However, those first few years matter enormously for loan repayment and basic financial stability. Living in New York on $24,804 while managing debt payments isn't just difficult—it's potentially unsustainable without family support.

Compare this to other New York design programs: Syracuse and Saint Rose graduates earn $40,000+ right out of the gate. The New School's eventual outcomes justify the struggle less than the rankings suggest, since you're asking a 22-year-old to endure years of financial hardship banking on future growth. Unless your child has the financial cushion to absorb those lean early years—or is willing to move back home—this represents a considerable gamble that other programs don't require.