Design and Applied Arts at University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth

UMass Dartmouth's Design and Applied Arts program starts rough but tells an encouraging story. That $29,660 first-year salary—about 12% below the national median for design programs—jumps to $45,008 by year four, a 52% increase that outpaces typical career progression in this field. Among Massachusetts design programs, where you're competing against powerhouses like Northeastern and BU (both near $50k), this program lands at the 40th percentile, but the growth trajectory suggests graduates are building valuable skills employers recognize over time.

The $27,000 debt load is manageable and actually sits at the 25th percentile nationally (meaning 75% of programs leave students with more debt). That 0.91 debt-to-earnings ratio in year one is concerning—you're borrowing nearly as much as you'll make initially—but it drops substantially as earnings climb. For context, this is an accessible program at a high-admission-rate public university where over a third of students receive Pell grants, so you're getting reasonable value without the $200k+ price tags of Boston's private design schools.

The question is whether your child can weather those lean early years. Design careers often require portfolio building and networking time before compensation catches up, which this data reflects. If they're committed to the field and can manage the initial financial squeeze through side work or family support, the four-year numbers suggest decent stability ahead—just not the standout earnings the state's top programs deliver.