Design and Applied Arts at University of Nevada-Las Vegas

UNLV's Design and Applied Arts program graduates earn just under $32,000 in their first year—below the national median but solidly middle-of-the-pack among Nevada's limited options for this degree. With only three schools offering this program in-state, the 60th percentile ranking suggests it's competitive locally, though that's a small comparison set. The bigger concern is the debt picture: graduates carry nearly $20,000, which places this program in the 95th percentile nationally for debt burden—meaning 95% of similar programs nationwide leave students with less debt.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62 means graduates owe about seven months of their first-year salary, which is manageable but not ideal for a creative field where early-career earnings tend to stay modest. Design careers often reward experience and portfolio development over time, so that $31,702 starting point matters less if there's growth potential. However, the data doesn't show earnings trajectories beyond year one, leaving that upside uncertain.

For Nevada families, this program offers access to a design degree without leaving the state, and the debt load is actually below Nevada's median for this field. But parents should weigh whether that first-year salary provides enough cushion for loan payments, especially if their student is considering the high cost of living in urban design hubs. The relatively low admission standards suggest UNLV casts a wide net—success here will depend heavily on your student's drive to build a strong portfolio and network during college.