Design and Applied Arts at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY · Bachelor's Degree · about 34 graduates a year
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates in design and applied arts earn 70% more than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 29% of one year’s pay at that point.
How Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 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 |
Other Majors at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute by Graduate Pay
| Major | 4 yrs after | 1 yr after | Rank in major |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $141,528 | $104,943 | #42 of 349 |
| Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $125,531 | $94,722 | #1 of 27 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $115,100 | $85,172 | #65 of 459 |
| Mathematics | $105,768 | $80,196 | #20 of 309 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $104,596 | $83,412 | #66 of 258 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $103,306 | $74,427 | #18 of 118 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $99,713 | $47,925 | #30 of 1176 |
| Chemical Engineering | $98,679 | $78,263 | #61 of 158 |
| Industrial Engineering | $98,509 | $74,787 | #45 of 94 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $94,750 | $73,213 | #35 of 59 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $92,952 | $73,833 | #132 of 318 |
| Nuclear Engineering | $87,239 | $77,014 | #12 of 12 |
| Civil Engineering | $86,794 | $71,790 | #99 of 233 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | $83,958 | — | #10 of 207 |
| Materials Engineering | $82,947 | $66,927 | #32 of 34 |
| Physics | $81,840 | $60,348 | #43 of 107 |
| Architecture | $75,551 | $54,334 | #11 of 78 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute design and applied arts graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $36,191 one year after graduating and $87,358 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute rank for design and applied arts?
Among 299 colleges reporting earnings for design and applied arts graduates, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranks #6 by median pay four years after graduation, and #5 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is design and applied arts at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute worth it?
Its graduates earn 70% more than the national median for design and applied arts ($51,490), and the median federal debt at graduation is $25,000.
← All data for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute · 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.