What Design and Digital Art programs cost
Every figure on this page is federal data, reported as the source reports it. Where a program has too few completers to report safely, the government suppresses the figure and so do we.
Data last updated
$25,048
427 programs reporting
Source: College Scorecard, Field of Study (retrieved September 2026)
$48,893
552 programs reporting
Source: College Scorecard, Field of Study (retrieved September 2026)
12
Of 393 reporting both figures
Source: College Scorecard, Field of Study (retrieved September 2026)
By credential
| Credential | Programs | Annual tuitionpublished, in-state | Median graduate debt | Median graduate earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate certificate | 613 | $4,440 | $11,571 | $37,727 |
| Associate degree | 552 | $4,386 | $12,336 | $37,578 |
| Bachelor’s degree | 674 | $27,992 | $26,000 | $49,803 |
| Master’s degree | 404 | $12,656 | $29,872 | $69,930 |
Sources: College Scorecard, Field of Study (retrieved September 2026); IPEDS, NCES (retrieved September 2026)
How we are paid: StudyCreative earns revenue when readers ask to be connected with a school. No school pays to appear in these figures, to change them, or to be left out of them. Full disclosure.
By institution type
| Institution type | Programs | Annual tuition | Median graduate debt | Median graduate earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public | 1,491 | $5,264 | $22,985 | $49,188 |
| Private nonprofit | 631 | $37,300 | $26,395 | $51,497 |
| Private for-profit | 121 | $18,731 | $29,332 | $41,617 |
Sources: College Scorecard, Field of Study (retrieved September 2026); IPEDS, NCES (retrieved September 2026)
Where the numbers do not work
12 of 393 programs reporting both figures leave graduates owing more in federal loans than they earn in their fourth year out. We publish them because no one else will.
| Institution | Fieldand delivery | at completion | 4 yrs after | Median federal loan debt at completion, divided by median earnings four years later. It answers a single question: how much of one year’s income do you owe on the day you finish?Below 50% is generally considered manageable. Above 100% means graduates owe more than they earn in a year, and repayment on a standard ten-year plan starts to consume a serious share of income.Debt covers federal loans only, so real ratios are often worse. Both figures are medians — half of graduates fall on the wrong side of each. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah College of Art and DesignMaster’s degree · GA · Private nonprofit | Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special EffectsMaster’s degree · Fully onlineOffers: Film and Television (BFA) · Animation (BFA) · Animation (MA/MFA) · Visual Effects (BFA) · Motion Media Design (BFA) · Illustration (BFA) · Illustration (MA/MFA) · Graphic Design (BA/BFA) | $99,295 | $51,962 | 191% |
| Maryland Institute College of ArtMaster’s degree · MD · Private nonprofit | Intermedia/MultimediaMaster’s degree · On campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:PaintingFiber, Textile and Weaving ArtsSculpturePrintmakingCeramic Arts and CeramicsFine Arts and Art Studies, OtherArt/Art Studies, GeneralArt History, Criticism and ConservationDrawingThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $98,610 | $51,820 | 190% |
| Academy of Art UniversityMaster’s degree · CA · Private for-profit | IllustrationMaster’s degree · HybridOffers: Music Production and Sound Design for Visual Media (BFA) · Music Scoring and Composition (BFA) · Game Development (BFA) · Animation and Visual Effects (BFA) · Graphic Design (BFA) · Illustration (BFA) · Visual Development (BFA)What this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Fashion/Apparel DesignCommercial and Advertising ArtThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $93,267 | $57,636 | 162% |
| Pratt Institute-MainMaster’s degree · NY · Private nonprofit | Graphic DesignMaster’s degree · On campusOffers: Game Arts (BFA) · Digital Arts – 2-D Animation (BFA) · Digital Arts – 3-D Animation and Motion Arts (BFA) · Digital Arts – Art and Technology (BFA) · Graphic Design (AOS)What this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Interior DesignIndustrial and Product DesignIllustrationDesign and Visual Communications, GeneralFashion/Apparel DesignGame and Interactive Media DesignThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $123,755 | $82,883 | 149% |
| Marymount UniversityMaster’s degree · VA · Private nonprofit | Interior DesignMaster’s degree · On campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Fashion/Apparel DesignDesign and Visual Communications, GeneralDesign and Applied Arts, OtherThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $95,211 | $69,957 | 136% |
| Los Angeles Film SchoolBachelor’s degree · CA · Private for-profit | Graphic DesignBachelor’s degree · HybridOffers: Audio Production (BS) · Audio Production (AS) · Music Production (BS) · Music Production (AS) · Film Production (BS) · Digital Filmmaking (BS) · Film (AS) · Animation (BS) · Graphic Design (BS) · Media Communications (BS) · Entertainment Business (BS) | $46,750 | $34,769 | 134% |
| Academy of Art UniversityMaster’s degree · CA · Private for-profit | Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special EffectsMaster’s degree · HybridOffers: Music Production and Sound Design for Visual Media (BFA) · Music Scoring and Composition (BFA) · Game Development (BFA) · Animation and Visual Effects (BFA) · Graphic Design (BFA) · Illustration (BFA) · Visual Development (BFA) | $83,224 | $64,026 | 130% |
| Savannah College of Art and DesignMaster’s degree · GA · Private nonprofit | IllustrationMaster’s degree · Online or on campusOffers: Film and Television (BFA) · Animation (BFA) · Animation (MA/MFA) · Visual Effects (BFA) · Motion Media Design (BFA) · Illustration (BFA) · Illustration (MA/MFA) · Graphic Design (BA/BFA)What this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Interior DesignFashion/Apparel DesignDesign and Visual Communications, GeneralThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $82,741 | $65,866 | 126% |
| Nossi College of Art and DesignBachelor’s degree · TN · Private for-profit | IllustrationBachelor’s degree · On campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Graphic DesignCommercial PhotographyThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $42,250 | $35,075 | 120% |
| Augusta UniversityBachelor’s degree · GA · Public | Intermedia/MultimediaBachelor’s degree · On campus | $27,741 | $25,770 | 108% |
| University of South AlabamaBachelor’s degree · AL · Public | Art/Art Studies, GeneralBachelor’s degree · On campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Intermedia/MultimediaThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $30,066 | $29,506 | 102% |
| George Washington UniversityMaster’s degree · DC · Private nonprofit | Interior DesignMaster’s degree · On campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Design and Visual Communications, GeneralGraphic DesignThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $75,495 | $75,210 | 100% |
Debt is federal loans only and excludes private borrowing, so real totals are often higher.
Source: College Scorecard, Field of Study (retrieved September 2026)
Where they work best
The same field, at the other end. These programs leave graduates with the lowest debt relative to what they go on to earn.
| Institution | Fieldand delivery | at completion | 4 yrs after | Median federal loan debt at completion, divided by median earnings four years later. It answers a single question: how much of one year’s income do you owe on the day you finish?Below 50% is generally considered manageable. Above 100% means graduates owe more than they earn in a year, and repayment on a standard ten-year plan starts to consume a serious share of income.Debt covers federal loans only, so real ratios are often worse. Both figures are medians — half of graduates fall on the wrong side of each. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Governors UniversityMaster’s degree · UT · Private nonprofit | Educational/Instructional TechnologyMaster’s degree · HybridOffers: Computer Science (BS) · Software Engineering (BS) · Information Technology (BS) · User Experience Design (BS) · Front-End Web Development (Certificate) | $7,989 | $71,469 | 11% |
| University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor’s degree · WA · Public | Design and Visual Communications, GeneralBachelor’s degree · On campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Industrial and Product DesignThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $12,250 | $89,193 | 14% |
| The Modern College of DesignAssociate degree · OH · Private for-profit | Commercial and Advertising ArtAssociate degree · Fully online | $5,500 | $39,430 | 14% |
| California State University-Monterey BayMaster’s degree · CA · Public | Educational/Instructional TechnologyMaster’s degree · Fully online | $14,540 | $104,220 | 14% |
| Salt Lake Community CollegeAssociate degree · UT · Public | Prepress/Desktop Publishing and Digital Imaging DesignAssociate degree · HybridWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special EffectsGraphic Communications, GeneralThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $8,000 | $50,857 | 16% |
| Harvard UniversityMaster’s degree · MA · Private nonprofit | Educational/Instructional TechnologyMaster’s degree · On campus | $20,500 | $127,546 | 16% |
| CUNY New York City College of TechnologyBachelor’s degree · NY · Public | Design and Visual Communications, GeneralBachelor’s degree · On campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Commercial and Advertising ArtThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $8,832 | $52,562 | 17% |
| Carnegie Mellon UniversityBachelor’s degree · PA · Private nonprofit | Design and Visual Communications, GeneralBachelor’s degree · On campus | $24,500 | $138,588 | 18% |
| Cuyahoga Community College DistrictAssociate degree · OH · Public | Graphic DesignAssociate degree · HybridWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Design and Visual Communications, GeneralInterior DesignCommercial PhotographyGame and Interactive Media DesignIllustrationThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $6,000 | $30,936 | 19% |
| Johnson County Community CollegeAssociate degree · KS · Public | Interior DesignAssociate degree · On campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Graphic DesignGame and Interactive Media DesignFashion/Apparel DesignThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $9,341 | $48,084 | 19% |
Source: College Scorecard, Field of Study (retrieved September 2026)
What these numbers do not tell you
- Debt figures cover federal loans only. Private loans, credit cards and family money are invisible here, so the real cost is usually higher.
- Earnings cover people who completed the program and were working and not enrolled four years later. People who dropped out are not counted, and dropping out is common.
- The Scorecard reports at a four-digit CIP level, so a figure for one program may pool several related ones at the same institution.
- Programs with too few completers are suppressed for privacy. Small programs are therefore under-represented on this page.