Design and Applied Arts at Western Carolina University
NC · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 50.04
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Design and Applied Arts degree from Western Carolina University earn a median salary of $47,802 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in NC, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $48,877. The degree typically pays for itself in 14.6 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
$37,651
Typical Career
$47,802
Top Performers
$61,250
Estimated break-even: 14.6 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$319
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,984. Most students can comfortably afford about a $319 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.2x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in North Carolina buys what costs $0.98 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Public Administration.
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
$48,877
Nominal: $47,802 in North Carolina (COL 97.8% of national avg) · 2.2% 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 | $29,481 | $37,958 | $45,827 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $37,651 | $47,802 | $61,250 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $41,582 | $54,051 | $76,224 |
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 $47,802 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in NC, which has a cost-of-living index of 97.8% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $47,802 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9780)
= $48,877 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary industries for graduates include Health Care & Social Assistance (19.9%), Educational Services (19.6%), and Public Administration (12.0%). The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately 14.6 years, suggesting a moderate return on investment. This timeline reflects the potential for long-term financial benefits, particularly in sectors that value design and applied arts skills.
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 Western Carolina 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.