Design and Applied Arts at University of Kentucky

University of Kentucky's Design and Applied Arts graduates earn significantly more than their peers nationally—landing in the 86th percentile with first-year earnings of $42,168, about $8,600 above the national median. The debt load of $27,000 is reasonable, resulting in a 0.64 debt-to-earnings ratio that should be manageable for most graduates. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could swing considerably in either direction, so treat them as directional rather than definitive.

What's interesting here is the trajectory: earnings climb 19% by year four, reaching over $50,000. This suggests UK's design program may be preparing students for careers with actual growth potential, rather than the stagnant earnings common in some creative fields. That said, the 60th percentile ranking among Kentucky programs indicates this isn't the strongest design program in the state—though with only seven schools offering the major, there's limited in-state competition anyway.

The bottom line: if your child is committed to design and wants to stay in Kentucky, UK offers solid earning potential with modest debt. Just remember that the small graduate cohort means future outcomes could vary more than typical programs. The real test would be looking at these numbers again in a few years to see if they hold steady.