Design and Applied Arts at Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC · Bachelor's Degree · about 23 graduates a year
Western Carolina University graduates in design and applied arts earn 14% more than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 51% of one year’s pay at that point.
How Western Carolina 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 |
| … | |||||
| 91 | Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN | $58,917 | $63,207 | #52 | $44,602 |
| 92 | Drake University Des Moines, IA | $58,834 | $61,886 | #60 | — |
| 93 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI | $58,634 | $61,823 | #61 | $39,077 |
| 94 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC | $58,467 | $62,743 | #56 | $32,842 |
| 95 | Belmont University Nashville, TN | $58,314 | $63,702 | #49 | $28,702 |
| 96 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona Altoona, PA | $58,105 | $59,093 | #93 | $43,324 |
| 97 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA | $58,105 | $59,093 | #94 | $43,324 |
Other Majors at Western Carolina University by Graduate Pay
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Western Carolina University design and applied arts graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $32,842 one year after graduating and $58,467 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does Western Carolina University rank for design and applied arts?
Among 299 colleges reporting earnings for design and applied arts graduates, Western Carolina University ranks #94 by median pay four years after graduation, and #56 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is design and applied arts at Western Carolina University worth it?
Its graduates earn 14% more than the national median for design and applied arts ($51,490), and the median federal debt at graduation is $29,911.
← All data for Western Carolina 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.