Design and Applied Arts at University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne

University of Saint Francis graduates in design and applied arts carry higher debt than most Indiana peers—$27,000 versus the state's $22,000 median—but their starting salaries match the state median at around $35,400. Among Indiana's 23 programs, this ranks right in the middle for earnings (60th percentile), though it trails notable programs like Notre Dame ($46,800) and Purdue ($44,600) by significant margins. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76 suggests graduates can manage their loans, but that $5,000 debt premium over state peers is worth questioning.

The concerning part is the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates in the data—which makes it hard to know if these outcomes are consistent year to year. What looks like steady 11% earnings growth to $39,000 by year four could easily shift with different cohorts. For a program serving many Pell Grant recipients (43% campus-wide), predictable outcomes matter enormously.

If your child is choosing between Saint Francis and larger state options like Ball State or Purdue Fort Wayne, this program doesn't make a compelling financial case. The earnings are average, the debt is above average, and the small size means you're betting on limited data. Unless there's a specific reason to choose this campus—location, smaller classes, unique faculty—the numbers suggest looking at programs with both lower debt and more proven track records.