Design and Applied Arts at Minneapolis College of Art & Design
MN · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 50.04
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Design and Applied Arts degree from Minneapolis College of Art & Design earn a median salary of $51,657 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in MN, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $54,896. The degree typically pays for itself in 12 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$35,051
Typical Career
$51,657
Top Performers
$68,983
Estimated break-even: 12 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$344
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,305. Most students can comfortably afford about a $344 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.3x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.7x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Minnesota buys what costs $0.94 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Retail Trade, Manufacturing.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$54,896
Nominal: $51,657 in Minnesota (COL 94.1% of national avg) · 6.3% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $23,105 | $30,926 | $43,691 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $35,051 | $51,657 | $68,983 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $40,484 | $62,026 | $102,796 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $51,657 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in MN, which has a cost-of-living index of 94.1% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $51,657 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9410)
= $54,896 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
Graduates typically enter industries such as Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (14.8%), Retail Trade (13.7%), and Manufacturing (13.0%). The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 12 years, suggesting that while the initial investment in education may take time to recoup, the long-term benefits in earnings potential and career opportunities can be significant. Overall, the return on investment for pursuing a degree in Design and Applied Arts appears favorable for those committed to the field.
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Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.