Best Design and Applied Arts Degrees in the US by ROI
Top colleges ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all active states. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
17
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$138,276
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$21,542
Cost of attendance
| # | College | State | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gnomon | CA | +$605,490 | $77,240 | $48,010 | $38,000 | Full ROI → |
| 2 | Miami Ad School | FL | +$173,300 | $50,665 | N/A | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Dallas College
Grad rate: 35.1% |
TX | +$153,839 | $50,174 | $9,641 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 4 | Miami Ad School-Atlanta | GA | +$143,653 | $50,665 | $29,647 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Grad rate: 67.7% |
MA | -$39,026 | $42,944 | $32,256 | $19,000 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Mesa Community College
Grad rate: 15.6% |
AZ | -$74,175 | $39,240 | $18,975 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Sessions College for Professional Design
Grad rate: 46.9% |
AZ | -$95,174 | $39,837 | $21,244 | $22,719 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Wake Technical Community College
Grad rate: 31.3% |
NC | -$136,826 | $36,904 | $16,798 | $13,414 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Century College
Grad rate: 21.0% |
MN | -$136,894 | $36,922 | $15,084 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Portland Community College
Grad rate: 17.8% |
OR | -$146,811 | $35,523 | $17,271 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 11 | Interior Designers Institute | CA | -$192,400 | $32,380 | N/A | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Des Moines Area Community College
Grad rate: 34.0% |
IA | -$215,564 | $32,005 | $15,664 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Ivy Tech Community College
Grad rate: 33.3% |
IN | -$303,051 | $27,542 | $13,891 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Academia Serrant Inc
Grad rate: 87.8% |
PR | -$467,663 | $19,213 | $11,923 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Grad rate: 48.2% |
WI | -$531,403 | $16,210 | $15,603 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Clary Sage College
Grad rate: 74.4% |
OK | -$541,599 | $16,967 | $26,169 | $10,941 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Community Care College
Grad rate: 65.7% |
OK | -$546,395 | $16,967 | $30,965 | $10,941 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). 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.