Design and Applied Arts at William Rainey Harper College
IL · Associate's Degree · CIP 50.04
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Design and Applied Arts degree from William Rainey Harper College earn a median salary of $50,919 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in IL, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $55,467. The degree typically pays for itself in 23 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
$38,341
Typical Career
$50,919
Top Performers
$67,570
Estimated break-even: 23 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$339
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,243. Most students can comfortably afford about a $339 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 Illinois buys what costs $0.92 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Educational Services.
Where Associate'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
$55,467
Nominal: $50,919 in Illinois (COL 91.8% of national avg) · 8.9% 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 | $24,507 | $34,399 | $47,119 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $38,341 | $50,919 | $67,570 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $31,905 | $45,751 | $76,015 |
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 $50,919 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in IL, which has a cost-of-living index of 91.8% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $50,919 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9180)
= $55,467 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary industries that graduates enter are predominantly within Health Care & Social Assistance, with 43.2%, 35.5%, and 25.2% of graduates finding employment in this sector. This concentration suggests a strong demand for design and applied arts skills in health-related fields. Considering the estimated break-even point of approximately 23 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment for this degree may be prolonged. However, the consistent employment opportunities in a growing industry could provide a stable career trajectory for graduates.
Compare with Another School
See how the Design and Applied Arts degree at William Rainey Harper College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Ready to apply?
Start your application for Design and Applied Arts at William Rainey Harper College.
Explore More
Other Degrees at William Rainey Harper College
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.