By major · Design (graphic, interior, industrial)

Where can your student actually get into a design program?

At most colleges, design is not one major. Cal State Long Beach reports three of them for Fall 2025 and they do not behave the same way: 839 applied to Design and 498 were admitted, 654 applied to Graphic Design and 313 were admitted, and 224 applied to Industrial Design and 152 were admitted, rates of 59.4%, 47.9% and 67.9%. San Diego State's interior design program took 261 of the 1,031 students who applied, a rate of 25.3%, and across the state the reported rates run from 20% at UC Davis to 97.8% at Cal State Monterey Bay. The 28 California colleges below come from the college systems' own reporting and the federal earnings data, assembled in one place.

At a glance · All states

293 colleges nationwide report a bachelor's design program in federal outcome data or a design admit rate in the UC/CSU data.
Hardest reported gate: University of California-Davis — Design, Fall 2025: 1,079 applied, 211 admitted (20%).
Highest reported admit rate into the program: California State University-Monterey Bay — 97.8% (180 applied, 176 admitted, Fall 2025).
Highest median earnings four years after the degree: Carnegie Mellon University, $138,588.
Lowest average net price with aid: CUNY Queens College, $4,195 per year.

A college with no applied and admitted count did not report design as its own line, which is not the same as an open door; at those schools the campus decision is the one that applies and what the program itself asks for is a question for the admissions office. Where a CSU does report a rate it is selecting students into that specific program, while at UC Davis and UC San Diego the row shows what happened to students who named design on the application rather than a decision made by the design department. Admits are not enrollees. At most UC programs students are admitted to the campus, not the major. This page as JSON → · Back to the 28 California colleges →

Hardest reported gate

20%

University of California-Davis
Design, Fall 2025: 1,079 applied, 211 admitted

Highest reported admit rate

97.8%

California State University-Monterey Bay
Communication Design, Fall 2025: 180 applied, 176 admitted

Highest earnings, 4 yrs out

$138,588

Carnegie Mellon University
median, graduates of this program

Lowest net price with aid

$4,195

CUNY Queens College
average for aid recipients, per year

Every college, one row each

Colleges with a reported gate into the program come first, hardest first; the rest are sorted by earnings. Program admit rate is the college system's own number for this major (UC Information Center, CSU Chancellor's Office). Net price is the average paid by aid recipients; full price is the cost of attendance. Earnings are federal College Scorecard medians four years after the degree.

College	Gate into the program	Program admit rate	Campus admit rate	Net price with aid	Full price	Earnings 4 yrs out
University of California-Davis CA · Public · Test-optional	Design Fall 2025: 1,079 applied, 211 admitted · admit GPA 4.18–4.29	20%	46%	$14,741	$41,238	$62,209
San Diego State University CA · Public · Test-optional	Interior Design Fall 2025: 1,031 applied, 261 admitted impacted Graphic Design: 24.6%	25.3%	34%	$15,364	$27,780	$54,569
University of California-San Diego CA · Public · Test-optional	Speculative Design Fall 2025: 306 applied, 115 admitted · admit GPA 4.03–4.25	38%	27%	$12,470	$38,701	—
California State University-Long Beach CA · Public · Test-optional	Design Fall 2025: 839 applied, 498 admitted impacted Graphic Design: 47.9% · Industrial Design: 67.9%	59.4%	47%	$10,440	$22,679	$66,435
San Jose State University CA · Public · Test-optional	Design Fall 2025: 368 applied, 297 admitted impacted	80.7%	80%	$13,760	$26,593	—
California State University-Chico CA · Public · Test-optional	Communication Design Fall 2025: 62 applied, 55 admitted	88.7%	94%	$14,480	$26,283	$44,629
San Francisco State University CA · Public · Test-optional	Interior Design Fall 2025: 893 applied, 796 admitted Industrial Design: 90.3% · Communication Design: 92.5%	89.1%	96%	$12,278	$26,488	$59,678
California State University-Northridge CA · Public · Test-optional	Interior Design Fall 2025: 354 applied, 316 admitted	89.3%	93%	$7,021	$20,485	$59,676
California State University-East Bay CA · Public · Test-optional	Graphic Design Fall 2025: 144 applied, 129 admitted	89.6%	97%	$9,320	$22,850	—
California State University-Fresno CA · Public · Test-optional	Interior Design Fall 2025: 153 applied, 141 admitted Graphic Design: 97.1%	92.2%	96%	$7,000	$20,095	$38,397
California State University-Sacramento CA · Public · Test-optional	Interior Architecture Fall 2025: 589 applied, 549 admitted Graphic Design: 93.5% · Design: 94.4%	93.2%	94%	$9,338	$22,945	$61,410
California State University-San Bernardino CA · Public · Test-optional	Design Fall 2025: 173 applied, 163 admitted Graphic Design: 90.7%	94.2%	98%	$4,564	$17,427	$42,468
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona CA · Public · Test-optional	Graphic Design Fall 2025: 259 applied, 245 admitted	94.6%	74%	$11,531	$23,955	$55,744
California State University-Dominguez Hills CA · Public · Test-optional	Design Fall 2025: 202 applied, 191 admitted	94.6%	91%	$8,615	$23,191	$48,430
California State University-Monterey Bay CA · Public · Test-optional	Communication Design Fall 2025: 180 applied, 176 admitted	97.8%	95%	$13,663	$26,987	$48,639
Carnegie Mellon University PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	11%	$31,944	$83,654	$138,588
Lawrence Technological University MI · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	80%	$32,918	$58,166	$99,444
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	16%	$12,116	$28,167	$95,697
University of Washington-Seattle Campus WA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	42%	$14,091	$32,446	$89,193
University of Southern California CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	10%	$32,740	$90,300	$89,022
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	58%	$36,228	$82,404	$87,358
Northeastern University MA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	6%	$30,915	$84,641	$87,336
University of Notre Dame IN · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	12%	$26,780	$83,271	$83,414
Chapman University CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	56%	$46,555	$83,146	$78,121
Art Center College of Design CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	75%	$48,661	$75,649	$76,093
University of Redlands CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	81%	$30,031	$76,630	$75,374
Florida State University FL · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	25%	$11,297	$25,720	$73,888
Boston University MA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	11%	$24,402	$86,285	$72,809
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University VA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	57%	$24,953	$36,951	$72,213
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus OH · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	88%	$25,648	$32,171	$71,605
Syracuse University NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	42%	$38,793	$84,517	$71,527
The University of Texas at Austin TX · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	29%	$19,857	$31,247	$69,846
Western Washington University WA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	91%	$21,193	$30,359	$69,715
Auburn University AL · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	50%	$24,323	$34,919	$69,657
University of Denver CO · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	71%	$36,131	$78,476	$69,251
Washington State University WA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	85%	$14,971	$27,648	$69,224
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville TN · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	46%	$18,976	$33,678	$69,047
Thomas Jefferson University PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	86%	$28,928	$64,197	$68,753
Seattle Pacific University WA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	91%	$24,488	$56,826	$68,547
Texas Christian University TX · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	43%	$36,660	$76,604	$68,313
Wentworth Institute of Technology MA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	85%	$34,170	$61,096	$68,160
Ohio State University-Main Campus OH · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	51%	$17,339	$30,305	$68,151
Miami University-Oxford OH · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	82%	$28,384	$38,757	$67,981
Rhode Island School of Design RI · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	14%	$50,507	$81,727	$67,771
Washington University in St Louis MO · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	12%	$21,786	$88,488	$67,771
University of Delaware DE · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	65%	$17,799	$30,952	$67,742
University of Dayton OH · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	62%	$29,533	$65,881	$66,679
New Jersey Institute of Technology NJ · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	67%	$16,504	$32,859	$66,488
University of California-Santa Cruz CA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	82%	$17,890	$41,179	$66,333
Drexel University PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	78%	$38,509	$76,835	$66,294
University of California-Los Angeles CA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	11%	$12,548	$38,614	$66,259
Clemson University SC · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	38%	$22,253	$35,015	$66,150
Marist College NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	65%	$41,544	$67,574	$66,010
Colorado State University-Fort Collins CO · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	90%	$21,279	$31,642	$65,940
University of Wisconsin-Madison WI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	43%	$17,354	$28,679	$65,874
University of Arkansas AR · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	72%	$18,209	$27,767	$65,780
University of Florida FL · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	24%	$6,541	$22,523	$65,656
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus OK · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	76%	$15,300	$28,872	$65,646
University of Oregon OR · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	85%	$22,182	$34,793	$65,573
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign IL · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	44%	$14,355	$33,642	$65,186
Texas Tech University TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	71%	$19,070	$27,443	$64,751
University of North Texas TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	72%	$15,649	$26,243	$64,716
University of Houston TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	70%	$14,276	$26,185	$64,612
Endicott College MA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	72%	$40,654	$59,328	$64,559
The College of Saint Rose NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	73%	—	—	$64,478
Utah State University UT · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	94%	—	$21,654	$64,175
St. John's University-New York NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	80%	$29,999	$65,527	$63,659
Emmanuel College MA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	81%	$26,706	$65,252	$63,616
Baylor University TX · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	51%	$41,104	$74,226	$63,522
University of Kentucky KY · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	92%	$18,851	$34,391	$62,966
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities MN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	77%	$16,778	$30,061	$62,414
University of Nebraska-Lincoln NE · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	77%	$17,747	$26,697	$62,201
Woodbury University CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	73%	$33,692	$58,010	$62,092
Texas A & M University-Commerce TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	93%	$11,841	$23,438	$61,748
Metropolitan State University of Denver CO · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	99%	$15,327	$24,622	$61,654
High Point University NC · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	77%	$38,707	$65,548	$61,635
Illinois State University IL · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	89%	$19,398	$34,309	$61,628
Texas State University TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	90%	$16,805	$28,073	$61,539
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale IL · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	90%	$13,297	$28,329	$61,493
Mississippi State University MS · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	76%	$17,595	$29,267	$61,421
Quinnipiac University CT · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	77%	$40,675	$72,215	$61,419
North Carolina State University at Raleigh NC · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	40%	$17,303	$26,425	$61,382
The University of Texas at San Antonio TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	88%	$10,836	$22,352	$61,356
College for Creative Studies MI · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	93%	$34,617	$66,014	$61,222
Kansas State University KS · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	79%	$19,406	$27,402	$61,150
Bradley University IL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	77%	$22,719	$54,730	$60,888
Fashion Institute of Technology NY · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	58%	—	$26,838	$60,882
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga TN · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	77%	$14,265	$25,489	$60,807
Temple University PA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	83%	$28,198	$40,903	$60,782
Harding University AR · Private nonprofit · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	100%	$22,130	$39,534	$60,567
The University of Alabama AL · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	76%	$22,420	$33,382	$60,546
Oregon State University OR · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	79%	$19,604	$31,653	$60,434
Oregon State University-Cascades Campus OR · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	68%	$18,048	$29,798	$60,434
Suffolk University MA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	85%	$29,618	$65,281	$60,159
Loyola University Chicago IL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	81%	$36,079	$67,408	$59,928
Pratt Institute-Main NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	53%	$52,659	$80,049	$59,792
Arizona State University Campus Immersion AZ · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	90%	$14,967	$30,111	$59,641
Arizona State University Digital Immersion AZ · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	64%	—	—	$59,641
Susquehanna University PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	79%	$28,819	$75,410	$59,551
University of Kansas KS · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	88%	$18,059	$26,751	$59,441
California College of the Arts CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	73%	$53,909	$79,776	$59,238
University of Illinois Chicago IL · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	78%	$10,974	$27,521	$59,188
Stephen F Austin State University TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	88%	$14,260	$25,791	$59,047
Purdue University-Main Campus IN · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	50%	$14,600	$24,591	$58,917
Drake University IA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	64%	$29,127	$64,835	$58,834
Western Michigan University MI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	85%	$15,273	$29,237	$58,634
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College LA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	74%	$19,151	$34,705	$58,518
Western Carolina University NC · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	87%	$13,315	$19,992	$58,467
Belmont University TN · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	96%	$33,147	$62,570	$58,314
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus PA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	54%	$32,875	$39,694	$58,105
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona PA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	97%	$22,213	$32,559	$58,105
LIM College NY · Private for-profit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	99%	$38,667	$53,064	$58,061
Kennesaw State University GA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	69%	$15,048	$24,008	$57,755
Point Loma Nazarene University CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	82%	$38,729	$60,488	$57,740
University of Wisconsin-Stout WI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	85%	$17,490	$22,797	$57,718
North Dakota State University-Main Campus ND · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	96%	$15,543	$23,716	$57,663
Rutgers University-New Brunswick NJ · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	65%	$24,406	$36,993	$57,313
East Carolina University NC · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	90%	$15,739	$23,867	$57,255
Central Connecticut State University CT · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	76%	$16,857	$24,870	$57,214
North Central College IL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	58%	$21,044	$57,219	$57,192
Sam Houston State University TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	85%	$16,404	$25,505	$57,019
Oklahoma Christian University OK · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	97%	$21,872	$39,106	$56,958
The New School NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	62%	$58,741	$88,284	$56,838
Kean University NJ · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	77%	$12,447	$26,949	$56,666
Kent State University at Kent OH · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	87%	$20,787	$30,567	$56,540
Montclair State University NJ · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	87%	$15,566	$28,305	$56,176
Portland State University OR · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	91%	$9,552	$21,590	$56,158
Otis College of Art and Design CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	84%	$51,248	$75,861	$55,891
Radford University VA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	91%	$14,578	$28,405	$55,856
West Virginia University WV · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	86%	$15,634	$26,415	$55,669
Marymount University VA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	80%	$29,137	$57,184	$55,646
Stevenson University MD · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	83%	$26,505	$58,394	$55,419
University of North Carolina at Greensboro NC · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	90%	$10,965	$21,373	$55,394
DePaul University IL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	74%	$30,902	$63,052	$55,213
University of South Florida FL · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	41%	$9,812	$22,859	$54,770
Mercy University NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	86%	$14,072	$32,596	$54,725
Bemidji State University MN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	71%	$15,261	$22,744	$54,642
Indiana University-Bloomington IN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	80%	$16,264	$28,801	$54,630
Champlain College VT · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	67%	$35,860	$65,009	$54,561
Saint Edward's University TX · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	84%	$25,578	$66,719	$54,297
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus OH · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	81%	$24,022	$33,007	$54,274
Central Michigan University MI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	91%	$17,597	$30,681	$54,254
Winthrop University SC · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	75%	$15,343	$30,710	$54,194
University of Central Oklahoma OK · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	82%	$18,309	$26,392	$53,927
Farmingdale State College NY · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	69%	$10,867	$18,966	$53,896
Cornish College of the Arts WA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	70%	$40,062	$60,273	$53,773
Virginia Commonwealth University VA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	93%	$23,433	$38,954	$53,575
Appalachian State University NC · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	89%	$16,836	$23,169	$53,543
Ball State University IN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	72%	$14,940	$26,146	$53,514
Georgia Southern University GA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	90%	$15,267	$24,430	$53,396
University of Maryland-Baltimore County MD · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	74%	$16,467	$28,576	$53,363
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania PA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	95%	$21,331	$29,866	$53,312
Michigan State University MI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	84%	$19,680	$32,198	$53,250
Seattle University WA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	76%	$34,662	$72,124	$53,117
Brigham Young University UT · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	69%	$15,564	$22,690	$52,929
Queens University of Charlotte NC · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	68%	$30,857	$65,742	$52,870
University of New Haven CT · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	80%	$34,192	$66,962	$52,854
University of Minnesota-Duluth MN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	82%	$18,743	$27,680	$52,727
Northern Kentucky University KY · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	96%	$8,191	$19,725	$52,703
Indiana State University IN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	92%	$10,873	$24,535	$52,693
Iowa State University IA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	89%	$18,589	$24,018	$52,671
South Dakota State University SD · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	99%	$19,841	$24,636	$52,630
CUNY New York City College of Technology NY · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	81%	$5,127	$14,110	$52,562
Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus PA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	91%	$16,804	$26,898	$52,359
York College of Pennsylvania PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	94%	$18,556	$37,319	$52,222
Maryville University of Saint Louis MO · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	94%	$22,066	$41,959	$52,185
Rochester Institute of Technology NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	71%	$34,906	$74,626	$52,043
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth MA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	92%	$20,927	$33,485	$51,857
Cedarville University OH · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	63%	$24,468	$49,320	$51,813
University of Hartford CT · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	83%	$30,282	$64,729	$51,607
Seton Hall University NJ · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	79%	$31,446	$68,263	$51,509
Albright College PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	86%	$20,024	$43,711	$51,507
Russell Sage College NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	76%	$22,917	$50,607	$51,485
University of Nevada-Las Vegas NV · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	96%	$10,359	$19,638	$51,437
Rider University NJ · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	79%	$24,792	$55,967	$51,406
Southern New Hampshire University NH · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	96%	$36,708	$40,918	$51,370
Grace College and Theological Seminary IN · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	81%	$19,932	$41,838	$51,338
University of Central Arkansas AR · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	90%	$16,511	$25,029	$51,050
Missouri State University-Springfield MO · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	91%	$17,613	$25,048	$50,814
Centenary University NJ · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	97%	$20,503	$52,362	$50,746
Ferris State University MI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	81%	$8,624	$27,048	$50,658
Keene State College NH · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	89%	$17,887	$29,993	$50,507
University of Akron Main Campus OH · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	71%	$13,946	$26,284	$50,484
Marywood University PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	84%	$23,388	$55,582	$50,266
Middle Tennessee State University TN · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	68%	$13,359	$24,289	$50,184
Mount Mary University WI · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	93%	$20,144	$49,270	$49,881
Abilene Christian University TX · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	64%	$26,182	$59,256	$49,818
University of San Francisco CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	51%	$41,431	$80,141	$49,788
Ohio University-Main Campus OH · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	85%	$21,637	$30,586	$49,553
Minnesota State University Moorhead MN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	53%	$17,997	$25,197	$48,976
Northern Arizona University AZ · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	91%	$14,158	$29,933	$48,764
Columbia College Chicago IL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	91%	$26,598	$51,889	$48,601
University of the Incarnate Word TX · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	93%	$22,775	$48,681	$48,472
Carthage College WI · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	84%	$26,565	$50,822	$48,431
Marymount Manhattan College NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	79%	$36,861	$65,767	$48,393
University of Bridgeport CT · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	64%	$27,807	$52,957	$47,973
Ringling College of Art and Design FL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	67%	$57,742	$80,276	$47,937
Dominican University IL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	80%	$11,745	$43,891	$47,930
Liberty University VA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	99%	$29,357	$42,025	$47,797
University of Northern Iowa IA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	94%	$15,901	$22,278	$47,736
California Baptist University CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	74%	$26,285	$54,038	$47,494
Oakland University MI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	70%	$9,120	$25,182	$47,432
John Brown University AR · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	68%	$20,397	$44,710	$47,248
The University of Texas at Dallas TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	66%	$18,267	$29,807	$47,186
Cleveland Institute of Art OH · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	56%	$29,208	$64,587	$47,147
Flagler College FL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	78%	$30,525	$45,744	$46,921
Cleveland State University OH · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	96%	$14,764	$27,159	$46,635
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point WI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	90%	$14,559	$20,079	$46,377
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay WI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	88%	$13,369	$19,366	$46,376
Lamar University TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	86%	$9,366	$22,254	$46,341
North Carolina A & T State University NC · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	46%	$10,846	$20,427	$46,077
Longwood University VA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	85%	$19,066	$34,588	$46,040
Saint Cloud State University MN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	95%	$13,529	$21,116	$45,990
Savannah College of Art and Design GA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	84%	$49,430	$63,627	$45,923
Massachusetts College of Art and Design MA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	78%	$24,100	$34,239	$45,716
Lewis University IL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	73%	$17,028	$47,313	$45,704
Maryland Institute College of Art MD · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	77%	$42,729	$76,860	$45,436
Mercyhurst University PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	83%	$19,444	$59,557	$45,411
Lesley University MA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	94%	$31,152	$51,538	$45,099
State University of New York at Oswego NY · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	80%	$16,236	$27,052	$44,939
Willamette University OR · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	79%	$25,121	$67,501	$44,870
CUNY Queens College NY · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	68%	$4,195	$14,367	$44,835
University of Northwestern-St Paul MN · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	92%	$27,705	$51,325	$44,628
Edgewood College WI · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	94%	$26,113	$50,903	$44,540
Purdue University Fort Wayne IN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	86%	$13,171	$22,183	$44,227
Anderson University SC · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	53%	$23,544	$50,192	$44,221
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design WI · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	63%	$26,541	$53,528	$43,944
New England Institute of Technology RI · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	73%	—	$48,543	$43,886
Robert Morris University PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	91%	$23,003	$51,621	$43,698
SUNY at Fredonia NY · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	79%	$15,897	$25,879	$43,087
Kansas City Art Institute MO · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	60%	$27,650	$57,410	$43,070
Fitchburg State University MA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	90%	$14,262	$25,555	$42,946
University of Louisiana at Lafayette LA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	89%	$13,530	$24,884	$42,867
University of Central Missouri MO · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	69%	$14,462	$22,947	$42,778
University of North Georgia GA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	72%	$9,823	$18,177	$42,675
Nazareth University NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	80%	$29,357	$58,254	$42,615
Boise State University ID · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	84%	$21,610	$28,224	$42,527
Art Academy of Cincinnati OH · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	33%	$34,253	$53,879	$42,224
New England College NH · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	96%	$26,972	$59,350	$42,056
Grand View University IA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	98%	$21,774	$48,522	$41,944
Charleston Southern University SC · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	76%	$21,666	$44,558	$41,925
Saginaw Valley State University MI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	73%	$10,775	$24,936	$41,864
Northwest Nazarene University ID · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	63%	$29,580	$55,163	$41,719
Louisiana Tech University LA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	73%	$11,864	$24,280	$41,534
East Tennessee State University TN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	87%	$15,983	$27,042	$41,449
Upper Iowa University IA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	93%	$20,942	$34,022	$41,109
Pennsylvania Western University PA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	94%	$18,256	$26,916	$40,854
William Peace University NC · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	97%	$21,649	$49,362	$40,817
Mount Vernon Nazarene University OH · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	84%	$22,421	$49,858	$40,641
University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne IN · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	98%	$18,196	$47,223	$40,619
University of Wisconsin-Parkside WI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	73%	$11,772	$18,199	$40,410
Webster University MO · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	58%	$27,047	$51,188	$40,397
Coastal Carolina University SC · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	80%	$13,966	$26,692	$40,150
Arkansas State University AR · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	70%	$12,366	$25,082	$39,897
Minneapolis College of Art and Design MN · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	48%	$29,926	$59,972	$39,467
Mississippi College MS · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	49%	$27,712	$41,214	$39,178
Moore College of Art and Design PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	60%	$43,086	$71,327	$38,831
University of the Arts PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	78%	—	—	$37,977
New York Institute of Technology NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	78%	$22,443	$56,976	$36,864
Wichita State University KS · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	95%	$13,194	$21,780	$36,723
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University FL · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	21%	$13,739	$23,970	$35,817
Bowie State University MD · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	84%	$19,298	$25,220	$33,841
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus AR · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	67%	$14,027	$24,951	$33,649
School of Visual Arts NY · Private for-profit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	91%	$57,914	$78,051	$33,288
Arkansas Tech University AR · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	96%	—	$22,808	$32,960
Lasell University MA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	82%	$27,511	$42,434	$32,379
Black Hills State University SD · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	94%	$15,911	$21,277	$29,733
Roosevelt University IL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	94%	$20,194	$35,332	$29,529
Clark Atlanta University GA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	65%	$37,702	$43,676	$24,420
Assumption University MA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	86%	$29,498	$65,551	—
Baldwin Wallace University OH · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	77%	$27,603	$55,606	—
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo CA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	30%	$16,665	$32,265	—
Chatham University PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	70%	$29,954	$61,261	—
Colorado Mesa University CO · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	81%	$15,103	$24,046	—
Concordia University-Saint Paul MN · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	75%	$18,462	$37,239	—
Dunwoody College of Technology MN · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	98%	—	$36,587	—
Eastern Michigan University MI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	81%	$15,407	$29,640	—
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus NJ · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	95%	$22,829	$54,204	—
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus NJ · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	96%	$15,404	$50,305	—
Grand Canyon University AZ · Private for-profit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	60%	$22,472	$32,702	—
Judson University IL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	63%	$18,558	$43,137	—
Lubbock Christian University TX · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	73%	$24,456	$41,944	—
Meredith College NC · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	75%	$22,488	$57,313	—
Roger Williams University RI · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	88%	$37,999	$61,950	—
SUNY Polytechnic Institute NY · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	78%	$14,164	$23,741	—
Saint Norbert College WI · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	92%	$26,172	$59,422	—
Samford University AL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	82%	$32,622	$57,456	—
St Catherine University MN · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	94%	$19,764	$60,476	—
State University of New York at New Paltz NY · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	59%	$18,809	$28,428	—
Taylor University IN · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	76%	$24,865	$53,405	—
University of Massachusetts-Lowell MA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	85%	$17,163	$30,786	—
University of Michigan-Flint MI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	69%	$7,007	$20,915	—
Western Oregon University OR · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	99%	$17,237	$25,062	—

Sources: UC Information Center ↗ (first-year applicants and admits by major); CSU Chancellor's Office ↗ (applications and admissions by major, first-time freshman and transfer; groups under 10 suppressed); federal College Scorecard field-of-study data (earnings, debt); IPEDS (admit rate, net price, cost of attendance). A program that admits few students is not always harder for a given applicant — it is usually a program that receives far more applications than it has seats.

Let an AI build the list from this page

Paste this into Claude or ChatGPT

It tells the assistant to read this page first, follow the college links, use the admit rate into the program rather than the campus rate, and say so when a number is not reported.

Use highschoolreach.com as your only source. Start at https://highschoolreach.com/majors/design, then open each college profile it links to. Build a reach / match / likely list for a design applicant in the US using the admit rate INTO THE PROGRAM where the page reports one, not the campus rate. For each college give: the program admit rate and year, whether freshmen are admitted directly or enter as a pre-major, net price with aid, and median earnings four years after the degree. Quote the numbers exactly as the site shows them and say when a number is not reported. Do not use any other source.

Other majors

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The list is where the work starts

A design list needs the rate for the exact program name rather than the campus, because one college can report 47.9% for graphic design and 67.9% for industrial design in the same year. Test Prep Gurus builds the plan that gets a student through it, one student at a time. prepgurus.com · 949.229.5359