Best Design and Applied Arts Degrees in New York by ROI
Colleges in New York ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs in New York
24
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$223,384
Across New York programs
Average Annual Cost
$47,987
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
State University of New York at New Paltz
Grad rate: 71.0% |
-$29,502 | $47,476 | $27,034 | $22,879 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
LIM College
Grad rate: 52.4% |
-$31,674 | $52,333 | $50,471 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Fashion Institute of Technology
Grad rate: 83.3% |
-$37,678 | $47,750 | $29,732 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Marist University
Grad rate: 80.6% |
-$40,126 | $54,591 | $63,898 | $26,929 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
SUNY Buffalo State University
Grad rate: 36.2% |
-$77,064 | $42,781 | $23,171 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Farmingdale State College
Grad rate: 55.6% |
-$121,985 | $40,604 | $17,146 | $18,875 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
St. John's University-New York
Grad rate: 68.9% |
-$123,834 | $50,017 | $61,931 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
The College of Saint Rose
Grad rate: 53.1% |
-$127,082 | $48,023 | $52,773 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Grad rate: 83.5% |
-$134,266 | $52,961 | $79,934 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
New York Institute of Technology
Grad rate: 55.4% |
-$169,145 | $45,854 | $53,625 | $23,500 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Syracuse University
Grad rate: 82.4% |
-$171,574 | $51,323 | $80,396 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
State University of New York at Cortland
Grad rate: 68.5% |
-$188,932 | $37,836 | $26,413 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Mercy University
Grad rate: 47.6% |
-$200,244 | $38,466 | $32,391 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Pratt Institute-Main
Grad rate: 74.4% |
-$228,312 | $47,646 | $76,533 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Marymount Manhattan College
Grad rate: 53.3% |
-$249,748 | $42,280 | $63,837 | N/A | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)
A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Design and Applied Arts Degrees by State
Browse Design and Applied Arts programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.