Design and Applied Arts graduates from Academy of Art University earn $57,636 median salary — below the national average for this program. Median debt: $93,267.
Design and Applied Arts at Academy of Art University
San Francisco, California • Master's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Design and Applied Arts at Academy of Art University
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Academy of Art University and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Design and Applied Arts at the master's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 78 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Academy of Art University, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $57,636 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $64,591 across all institutions offering Design and Applied Arts, graduates here earn below the national average for this program. Across all programs at Academy of Art University, the mean median-earnings figure is $49,045, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Design and Applied Arts graduates at Academy of Art University is $93,267, which translates to roughly $777 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.62 is above the 1.0 threshold, meaning cumulative debt exceeds first-year post-completion earnings. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Design and Applied Arts at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Institute of Technology | $144,324 | — |
| Liberty University | $112,935 | $30,991 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | $106,421 | $64,233 |
| Rhode Island School of Design | $93,136 | — |
| The New School | $86,473 | $42,587 |
| California College of the Arts | $86,129 | — |
| Pratt Institute-Main | $82,883 | $123,755 |
| Drexel University | $80,986 | — |
| George Washington University | $75,210 | $75,495 |
| Maryland Institute College of Art | $73,348 | $39,905 |
Other Programs at Academy of Art University
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $87,998 | $71,352 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $73,398 | $36,750 |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $71,613 | $84,794 |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $66,783 | $40,171 |
| Graphic Communications | $64,026 | $83,224 |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | $62,856 | — |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $60,731 | $31,211 |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | $60,284 | — |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $58,879 | $113,213 |
| Design and Applied Arts (current) | $57,636 | $93,267 |
Other Schools with Design and Applied Arts
Quick picks offering the same program — compare side by side
About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.