Design and Applied Arts at Colorado State University
CO · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 50.04
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Design and Applied Arts degree from Colorado State University earn a median salary of $62,306 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in CO, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $59,283. The degree typically pays for itself in 8.2 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$49,659
Typical Career
$62,306
Top Performers
$75,054
Estimated break-even: 8.2 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$415
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $5,192. Most students can comfortably afford about a $415 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.6x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.8x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Colorado buys what costs $1.05 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$59,283
Nominal: $62,306 in Colorado (COL 105.1% of national avg) · 4.9% lower 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 | $31,617 | $44,129 | $54,237 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $49,659 | $62,306 | $75,054 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $47,376 | $67,476 | $93,395 |
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 $62,306 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in CO, which has a cost-of-living index of 105.1% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $62,306 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0510)
= $59,283 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries for graduates include Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (16.3%), Health Care & Social Assistance (12.1%), and Educational Services (12.0%). This diverse range of sectors highlights the versatility of a degree in Design and Applied Arts. With an estimated break-even point of approximately 8.2 years compared to a high-school-only path, the program offers a reasonable return on investment, making it a viable option for students considering their long-term career prospects.
AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.
Compare with Another School
See how the Design and Applied Arts degree at Colorado State University stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
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.