Applied Arts Major Guide: Overview and RoEDU™ Opportunities 2025

The Applied Arts major builds core foundations in this discipline and prepares students with practical, career-relevant skills. Use RoEDU™ to find programs that match your goals.

Within Arts, students often explore key subfields and specializations that provide targeted expertise.

Graduates translate classroom knowledge into real-world impact across sectors through hands-on projects and internships.

As part of Arts, this major connects to diverse, high-demand fields and interdisciplinary pathways.

Salary Outlook

Entry-level salary
$61,446

Typical starting pay soon after graduation.

Mid-career salary (10y)
$97,150

Estimated after a decade of experience.

Experienced salary (20y)
$130,562

Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.

Weighted median over last 5 years
CAGR 6.4%

CAGR (compound annual growth rate) summarizes average yearly change across the observed period.

Estimated lifetime earnings

40 years, present value
$2,457,840

Employment-weighted across mapped SOCs; entry ≈ 85% of median; historical CAGR shown for last 5y; projections capped at 3% CAGR; lifetime is 40-year present value at 3% discount.

Career Opportunities & Salaries

Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) • Median wages, employment, and growth projections

OccupationMedian WageTotal JobsGrowth RateEducation
Web and Digital Interface Designers
SOC: 15-1255
Occupation: Web and Digital Interface Designers
$98,090
111,400
N/A
N/A
Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC: 25-1031
Occupation: Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary
$101,480
9,120
N/A
N/A
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC: 25-1121
Occupation: Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
$80,190
97,890
N/A
N/A
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
SOC: 25-1199
Occupation: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
$78,490
151,530
N/A
N/A
Art Directors
SOC: 27-1011
Occupation: Art Directors
$111,040
50,370
N/A
N/A
Special Effects Artists and Animators
SOC: 27-1014
Occupation: Special Effects Artists and Animators
$99,800
21,280
N/A
N/A

Historical Career Trends (2020-2024)

Historical data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020-2024) • Salary trends and employment growth over 5 years

Web and Digital Interface Designers

22.8%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$98,090111,400
2023$98,540111,060
2022$83,24097,350
2021$79,89082,380

Commercial and Industrial Designers

10.9%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$79,45030,250
2023$76,25030,810
2022$75,91030,450
2021$77,03027,940
2020$71,64030,100

Graphic Designers

14.8%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$61,300214,260
2023$58,910212,720
2022$57,990211,890
2021$50,710204,040
2020$53,380201,440

Interior Designers

11.3%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$63,49069,580
2023$62,51067,760
2022$61,59064,290
2021$60,34061,970
2020$57,06059,170

Set and Exhibit Designers

13.9%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$66,28010,850
2023$59,49010,090
2022$59,9909,490
2021$54,8606,850
2020$58,18010,980

Designers, All Other

3.9%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$66,2209,680
2023$67,5009,880
2022$65,39011,180
2021$62,31010,190
2020$63,75010,680

Colleges offering Applied Arts

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$15k

Earnings

$69k

University of Chicago

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$28k

Earnings

$91k

University of San Francisco

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$45k

Earnings

$75k

University of Southern California

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$42k

Earnings

$78k

University of Florida

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$12k

Earnings

$63k