Design and Applied Arts at University of Central Arkansas

With first-year earnings of $43,106, this program stands out nationally—graduates earn nearly $10,000 more than the typical design and applied arts graduate across the country. That's a significant premium for a field where early-career salaries often hover in the low-to-mid $30,000s. While debt figures are estimated from comparable Arkansas programs at around $25,559, the resulting debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59 suggests graduates should be able to manage loan payments on roughly half a year's salary, which is manageable territory for a creative field degree.

What's striking is that UCA outperforms the flagship University of Arkansas by over $1,300 in first-year earnings for this program, placing it at the top of the state's design programs despite its broader admissions profile. This could reflect strong industry connections in Little Rock's growing design and advertising sectors, or simply a program that effectively prepares students for higher-paying positions rather than freelance or retail work that often characterizes entry-level design careers.

For parents weighing this investment, the earnings premium over peer programs—both in Arkansas and nationally—makes a compelling case, even with the uncertainty around the exact debt figure. The combination of accessible admissions, strong early outcomes, and a reasonable estimated debt load suggests this program delivers solid value for students who can complete the degree.