Design and Applied Arts at Washington University in St Louis

Washington University attracts some of the country's most accomplished students, but its Design and Applied Arts graduates start at $33,615—essentially identical to the national average and actually below Missouri's median of $33,808. More concerning, this is the bottom 40th percentile among Missouri programs, meaning six in ten Design and Applied Arts programs in the state produce higher first-year earnings. Park University graduates from similar programs earn nearly 40% more, and even less selective state schools like Missouri Western and University of Central Missouri show stronger early outcomes.

The debt picture offers a partial silver lining. At $19,089, graduates carry significantly less debt than typical for this field (national median: $26,880). Still, with that 0.57 debt-to-earnings ratio and starting salaries under $34,000, new graduates face real financial pressure—particularly those from the 84% of families who don't qualify for Pell grants and likely pay substantial tuition. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift considerably, but the pattern is hard to ignore: elite admissions standards aren't translating to elite outcomes for this particular program.

If your child is set on design at an elite institution, understand they'll be competing with Mizzou and regional university graduates who often earn more right out of school. The WashU name may pay dividends later, but that's speculative. The measurable data suggests this expensive credential doesn't deliver clear advantages in the Missouri job market.