Design and Applied Arts at Washington State University

WSU's Design and Applied Arts program outperforms 95% of similar programs nationally with first-year earnings of $44,823—about $11,000 above the national median. However, within Washington state, it lands at the 60th percentile, trailing both UW-Seattle and Bellevue College. At $22,802 in median debt, graduates borrow about $3,200 less than both state and national peers, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51—meaning graduates could theoretically pay off loans with roughly half of their first year's salary.

The 28% earnings growth to $57,332 by year four is solid, though this program carries an important caveat: with fewer than 30 graduates in the data, a handful of exceptionally successful designers or a few struggling artists could skew these numbers significantly. The relatively high admission rate (85%) suggests accessibility, but parents should recognize this data may not be stable from year to year.

For families seeking design education in Washington, this represents decent value—especially compared to the state median. The lower debt load is genuinely advantageous. But if your student can gain admission to UW-Seattle (which pays $18,600 more in year one), that program delivers substantially stronger financial outcomes. WSU works best for students who need a more accessible entry point into design careers while keeping debt manageable.