Grad school · Arts, design and performing arts

Graphic and industrial design graduate programs: earnings and debt by school

103 colleges award master's degrees in graphic and industrial design. Graduates of the typical program earned $53,468 a year after finishing, and those who borrowed left with a median of $55,406 in federal loans taken at the school.

Master's programs103

Graduates in 2023-241,604

Typical median debt$55,406

Typical earnings 1 yr after$53,468

Typical earnings 4 yrs after$69,930

Earnings to debt1x

Official field: Design and Applied Arts. Admission figures such as LSAT, MCAT or GRE scores are not part of this federal data, so check each school.

Degree level	Programs	Typical earnings 1 yr after	Typical median debt
Master's	103	$53,468	$55,406
Doctoral	5	n/a	n/a

Is it worth it? Debt vs first-year pay

Each dot is one master's program. Dots above the dashed line have graduates earning more in their first year than the program's median debt.

Earnings above median debt Debt above first-year earnings

Master's programs in graphic and industrial design

Highest first-year earnings

Maryland Institute College of Art$89,986

Pratt Institute-Main$69,098

The University of Texas at Austin$64,660

Liberty University$56,410

Kent State University at Kent$55,372

Iowa State University$53,760

Bowling Green State University-Main Campus$53,177

Full Sail University$48,146

Filter by school, city or state

College	Graduates (2023-24)	Earnings 1 yr after	Earnings 4 yrs after	Median debt
Illinois Institute of TechnologyChicago, IL	7	n/a	$144,324	n/a
Liberty UniversityLynchburg, VA	74	$56,410	$112,935	$31,547
Rhode Island School of DesignProvidence, RI	15	n/a	$93,136	n/a
The New SchoolNew York, NY	78	n/a	$86,473	$55,406
Pratt Institute-MainBrooklyn, NY	87	$69,098	$82,883	$146,319
Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA	7	n/a	$80,986	n/a
George Washington UniversityWashington, DC	24	n/a	$75,210	n/a
Maryland Institute College of ArtBaltimore, MD	159	$89,986	$73,348	$41,000
Marymount UniversityArlington, VA	2	$68,106	$69,957	n/a
Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ	8	n/a	$69,930	$59,308
Arizona State University Digital ImmersionScottsdale, AZ	29	n/a	$69,930	$59,308
Savannah College of Art and DesignSavannah, GA	163	$47,276	$65,866	$81,999
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA	12	$46,725	$65,638	n/a
School of Visual ArtsNew York, NY	28	$33,775	$65,176	n/a
University of BaltimoreBaltimore, MD	7	n/a	$63,427	n/a
North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh, NC	6	$58,079	$60,289	n/a
Full Sail UniversityWinter Park, FL	64	$48,146	$60,023	$41,000
Academy of Art UniversitySan Francisco, CA	57	$43,892	$57,636	$75,954
Bowling Green State University-Main CampusBowling Green, OH	32	$53,177	$48,570	$25,379
Atlantic UniversityGuaynabo, PR	26	$20,889	$37,426	n/a
The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX	35	$64,660	n/a	n/a
Kent State University at KentKent, OH	15	$55,372	n/a	n/a
Iowa State UniversityAmes, IA	18	$53,760	n/a	n/a
Ohio University-Main CampusAthens, OH	9	$45,689	n/a	n/a
American UniversityWashington, DC	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
Art Center College of DesignPasadena, CA	32	n/a	n/a	n/a
Auburn UniversityAuburn, AL	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
Boise State UniversityBoise, ID	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Boston UniversityBoston, MA	35	n/a	n/a	n/a
Brenau UniversityGainesville, GA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
California College of the ArtsSan Francisco, CA	32	n/a	n/a	n/a
California State University-Long BeachLong Beach, CA	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Central Connecticut State UniversityNew Britain, CT	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Chatham UniversityPittsburgh, PA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Clemson UniversityClemson, SC	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
College for Creative StudiesDetroit, MI	14	n/a	n/a	n/a
Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
DePaul UniversityChicago, IL	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Eastern Michigan UniversityYpsilanti, MI	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Fairfield UniversityFairfield, CT	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Fashion Institute of TechnologyNew York, NY	31	n/a	n/a	n/a
Ferris State UniversityBig Rapids, MI	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Florida State UniversityTallahassee, FL	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Furman UniversityGreenville, SC	14	n/a	n/a	n/a
George Mason UniversityFairfax, VA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusAtlanta, GA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Jacksonville State UniversityJacksonville, AL	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Jacksonville UniversityJacksonville, FL	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Kansas State UniversityManhattan, KS	12	n/a	n/a	n/a
Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaKutztown, PA	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Laguna College of Art and DesignLaguna Beach, CA	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Lindenwood UniversitySaint Charles, MO	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
Marywood UniversityScranton, PA	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Miami University-OxfordOxford, OH	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Minneapolis College of Art and DesignMinneapolis, MN	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Mississippi Christian UniversityClinton, MS	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
New York Film AcademyBurbank, CA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Northeastern UniversityBoston, MA	28	n/a	n/a	n/a
Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
Otis College of Art and DesignLos Angeles, CA	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Pacific Northwest College of ArtPortland, OR	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
Pennsylvania State University-World CampusUniversity Park, PA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette, IN	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteTroy, NY	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Rochester Institute of TechnologyRochester, NY	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco, CA	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
School of the Art Institute of ChicagoChicago, IL	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Southeastern UniversityLakeland, FL	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Suffolk UniversityBoston, MA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY	20	n/a	n/a	n/a
Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Texas State UniversitySan Marcos, TX	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphia, PA	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University at BuffaloBuffalo, NY	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, CA	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Central FloridaOrlando, FL	18	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ChicagoChicago, IL	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati, OH	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of DelawareNewark, DE	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of DenverDenver, CO	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of FloridaGainesville, FL	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of HartfordWest Hartford, CT	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of HoustonHouston, TX	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Illinois ChicagoChicago, IL	13	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of KansasLawrence, KS	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of KentuckyLexington, KY	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyBaltimore, MD	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of North TexasDenton, TX	15	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Notre DameNotre Dame, IN	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusNorman, OK	29	n/a	n/a	$41,000
University of OregonEugene, OR	13	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA	32	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Wisconsin-StoutMenomonie, WI	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Washington State UniversityPullman, WA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Washington University in St LouisSt. Louis, MO	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
Wichita State UniversityWichita, KS	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Worcester Polytechnic InstituteWorcester, MA	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT	18	n/a	n/a	n/a

Doctoral programs in graphic and industrial design

Filter by school, city or state

College	Graduates (2023-24)	Earnings 1 yr after	Earnings 4 yrs after	Median debt
Auburn UniversityAuburn, AL	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Illinois Institute of TechnologyChicago, IL	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN	6	n/a	n/a	n/a

Frequently asked questions

How much do graphic and industrial design graduates earn?

Graduates of the typical master's program earned a median of $53,468 one year after finishing, in 2024 dollars.

How much debt do graphic and industrial design graduate students take on?

The typical program's graduates who borrowed left with a median of $55,406 in federal loans taken at that school. Undergraduate loans are not included.

Undergraduate: Graphic and industrial design major

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field of study file, data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. One-year figures: graduates of 2020-21 and 2021-22, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Four-year figures: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. More on the data.