Master’s Degrees in Design & Applied Arts
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Education Levels of Design Majors
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 1,894 students earned their master's degree in design. This makes it the 74th most popular master's degree program in the country.
The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in design at each degree level.
Education Level | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Master’s Degree | 1,894 |
Graduate Certificate | 169 |
Doctor’s Degree | 25 |
Earnings of Design Majors With Master’s Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding a master's degree in design is $40,600. A lot of factors can contribute to this number, such as the location of your workplace and the availability of other perks and bonuses.
A better approximation of salary is to look at the typical range of salaries. In this case the low is $36,800 and the high is $50,550.

Student Debt
The median student debt for graduates holding a master's degree in design is $57,437. The school you go to and how long it takes you to graduate, among other things, can cause this number to vary.
The chart below shows the range of accumulated debt loads. On the high side of the range, $86,414 is the debt load, and the debt load on the low side is $46,173.

Those students who are paying back their debt on a 10-year repayment plan have a median monthly payment of $669.
Student Diversity
More women than men pursue their master's degree in design. About 67.4% of graduates with this degree are female.
Gender | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Men | 617 |
Women | 1,277 |

The racial-ethnic distribution of design master’s degree students is as follows:
Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 95 |
Black or African American | 106 |
Hispanic or Latino | 132 |
White | 559 |
International Students | 866 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 136 |

Most Popular Design Programs for Master’s Degrees
There are 130 colleges that offer a master’s degree in design. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:
The most popular school in the United States for design students seekinga master's degree is Savannah College of Art and Design. Each year, around 14,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $37,575 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $38,475 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 215 people received their master's degree in design from SCAD. About 67% of this group were women, and 11% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Academy of Art University is the 2nd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in design. Each year, around 9,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $23,112 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $25,992 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 147 people received their master's degree in design from Academy of Art University. Of these students, 80% were women and 18% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Pratt Institute - Main comes in at #3 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in design. Roughly 5,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $51,754 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $33,246 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 139 master's degrees were handed out to design majors at Pratt Institute. About 78% of this group were women, and 4% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 4th most popular school in the country for design majors who are seeking their master's degree is Maryland Institute College of Art. Each year, around 2,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $48,510 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $48,510 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 94 master's degrees were handed out to design majors at MICA. Around 20% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 80% were women.
The 5th most popular school in the country for design majors who are seeking their master's degree is Full Sail University. Roughly 21,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $20,667 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $14,498 per year.
The design program at Full Sail University awarded 83 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Of these students, 55% were women and 58% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The New School is the 6th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in design. Roughly 10,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $49,770 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $46,710 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 70 master's degrees were handed out to design majors at New School University. Of these students, 69% were women and 9% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
New York School of Interior Design is the 7th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in design. Each year, around 500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $31,800 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $36,000 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 69 people received their master's degree in design from NYSID. Around 19% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 87% were women.
School of Visual Arts is the 8th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in design. Each year, around 4,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $41,900 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $46,940 per year.
The design program at School of Visual Arts awarded 45 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. About 67% of this group were women, and 20% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
California College of the Arts comes in at #9 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in design. Roughly 1,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $50,592 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $53,250 per year.
The design program at California College of the Arts awarded 42 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Of these students, 60% were women and 14% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 10th most popular school in the country for design majors who are seeking their master's degree is Carnegie Mellon University. Roughly 14,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $55,816 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $45,037 per year.
The design program at Carnegie Mellon University awarded 36 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. About 67% of this group were women, and 25% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 11th most popular school in the country for design majors who are seeking their master's degree is Arizona State University - Tempe. Each year, around 53,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,710 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,720 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 32 master's degrees were handed out to design majors at ASU - Tempe. About 62% of this group were women, and 19% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 12th most popular school in the country for design majors who are seeking their master's degree is Atlantic University College. Each year, around 1,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,795 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,000 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 31 people received their master's degree in design from Atlantic University College. Around 100% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 52% were women.
New York University comes in at #13 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in design. Each year, around 52,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $50,684 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $33,408 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 30 master's degrees were handed out to design majors at NYU. About 63% of this group were women, and 33% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Boston University is the 14th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in design. Each year, around 33,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $54,720 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $54,720 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 26 master's degrees were handed out to design majors at Boston U. Around 8% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 88% were women.
Arizona State University - Skysong comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in design. Roughly 45,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,867 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,384 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 25 master's degrees were handed out to design majors at ASU - Skysong. Of these students, 64% were women and 28% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Rochester Institute of Technology is the 16th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in design. Roughly 16,200 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $44,049 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $47,522 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 24 people received their master's degree in design from RIT. About 50% of this group were women, and 17% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 16th most popular school in the country for design majors who are seeking their master's degree is School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Each year, around 3,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $47,814 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $42,904 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 24 people received their master's degree in design from School of the Art Institute of Chicago. About 71% of this group were women, and 12% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
North Carolina State University comes in at #16 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in design. Roughly 36,300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,535 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,095 per year.
The design program at North Carolina State University awarded 24 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Around 29% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 46% were women.
Marymount University is the 19th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in design. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $32,100 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $18,900 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 23 people received their master's degree in design from Marymount. About 100% of this group were women, and 26% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Auburn University comes in at #20 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in design. Roughly 30,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,816 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,828 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 21 master's degrees were handed out to design majors at Auburn. Of these students, 71% were women and 10% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
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Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to design that offer master’s degrees.
Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
---|---|
Music | 6,038 |
Fine & Studio Arts | 3,527 |
Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 1,963 |
Drama & Theater Arts | 1,783 |
Arts & Media Management | 1,112 |
References
*The racial-ethnic minority student count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the percentage of racial-ethnic minorities.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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