Design and Applied Arts at Academy of Art University
San Francisco, CA · Bachelor's Degree · about 63 graduates a year
Academy of Art University graduates in design and applied arts earn 25% less than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 82% of one year’s pay at that point.
How Academy of Art University Compares for Design and Applied Arts
All 299 colleges reporting design and applied arts earnings at this degree level, ranked by median pay four years after graduation. “Wage-adjusted” divides pay by the square root of the state’s wage index so colleges in low-wage states aren’t penalized for local pay.
| # | College | 4 yrs after | Wage-adjusted | Adj. rank | 1 yr after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA | $138,588 | $140,945 | #1 | $66,274 |
| 2 | Lawrence Technological University Southfield, MI | $99,444 | $104,852 | #2 | — |
| 3 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA | $95,697 | $99,066 | #3 | $52,694 |
| 4 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA | $89,193 | $82,038 | #6 | $63,449 |
| 5 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA | $89,022 | $81,004 | #7 | $64,846 |
| 6 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY | $87,358 | $83,147 | #5 | $36,191 |
| 7 | Northeastern University Boston, MA | $87,336 | $76,908 | #10 | $49,727 |
| 8 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN | $83,414 | $89,488 | #4 | $46,825 |
| 9 | Chapman University Orange, CA | $78,121 | $71,085 | #21 | $46,519 |
| 10 | Art Center College of Design Pasadena, CA | $76,093 | $69,240 | #26 | $47,053 |
| … | |||||
| 275 | Mississippi College Clinton, MS | $39,178 | $47,535 | #205 | $32,020 |
| 276 | University of Advancing Technology Tempe, AZ | $38,996 | $40,069 | #268 | $30,640 |
| 277 | Moore College of Art and Design Philadelphia, PA | $38,831 | $39,491 | #272 | $20,587 |
| 278 | Academy of Art University San Francisco, CA | $38,583 | $35,108 | #284 | $20,829 |
| 279 | California State University-Fresno Fresno, CA | $38,397 | $34,939 | #286 | $23,160 |
| 280 | Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Lancaster, PA | $38,275 | $38,926 | #274 | $25,830 |
| 281 | New York Institute of Technology Old Westbury, NY | $36,864 | $35,087 | #285 | — |
Other Design and Applied Arts Credentials at Academy of Art University
| Credential | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate's Degree | $26,478 | $40,595 | $31,937 |
| Master's Degree | $38,358 | $57,636 | $93,267 |
Other Majors at Academy of Art University by Graduate Pay
| Major | 4 yrs after | 1 yr after | Rank in major |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $73,398 | $45,387 | #15 of 54 |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $66,783 | $48,978 | #7 of 9 |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | $60,284 | — | #16 of 42 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $54,087 | $25,425 | #55 of 158 |
| Graphic Communications | $50,833 | $27,481 | #17 of 59 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $46,726 | $23,354 | #60 of 144 |
| Visual and Performing Arts | $43,084 | $28,494 | #29 of 68 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $41,565 | $27,630 | #56 of 57 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $35,870 | $20,798 | #198 of 255 |
| Music | $33,151 | — | #248 of 268 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Academy of Art University design and applied arts graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $20,829 one year after graduating and $38,583 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does Academy of Art University rank for design and applied arts?
Among 299 colleges reporting earnings for design and applied arts graduates, Academy of Art University ranks #278 by median pay four years after graduation, and #284 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is design and applied arts at Academy of Art University worth it?
Its graduates earn 25% less than the national median for design and applied arts ($51,490), and the median federal debt at graduation is $31,500.
← All data for Academy of Art University · Methodology
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled; programs with few graduates are not reported. Wage adjustment uses Census ACS state median household income.