CollegeCostWise

Bachelor's · Cedar Falls, Iowa

Is Design and Applied Arts at University of Northern Iowa worth it?

Medium confidence Medium confidence: 40–99 graduates behind the earnings figures.

The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans

Pays back slowly: graduates typically recover the cost in about 8.4 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating
$48,317
Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating
$51,274
Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation
$22,500
NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families
$68k (likely $68k – $91k)
AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4
$11k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in IA
2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback
8.4 years (likely 5.4–16.5)
Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return
−$144k (likely −$223k – −$74k)
Today's dollars
20-year net return
−$26k (likely −$161k – $124k)
Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide)
69%
Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26

Change income, residency or loans Compare Design and Applied Arts at other schools

🎨 Getting ready in high school

Students heading toward art, design & performance majors like this one often take these classes. Every school offers a different mix, so check with your counselor.

AP classes

  • AP 2-D Art and Design
  • AP Drawing
  • AP Art History
  • AP Music Theory

IB Higher Level

  • Visual Arts HL
  • Music HL or Theatre HL or Film HL

Build my roadmap 🗺️ Middle school to career, plus high schools near you that offer these classes.

Other majors at University of Northern Iowa

Design and Applied Arts at other schools in Iowa