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Design and Applied Arts at Assumption University

Worcester, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
22 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
23
Optimistic
22
Base Case
31
Pessimistic
Earnings $28,032/yr (-17% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 2.0x earnings multiple
Ranked #257 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Design and Applied Arts graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $385K $394K $389K
Earnings Multiple 1.9x 2.0x 2.0x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 23 22 31

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$197,656
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$115,412
42% less than sticker · See by income

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $28,032 place Assumption University below the $33,862 national median for Design and Applied Arts — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

An earnings multiple of 2.0x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 38% task exposure — and the -1% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At #257 out of 290 programs, Assumption University's financial outcomes for Design and Applied Arts trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Assumption University

Assumption University accepts 87% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 1,664 students in Worcester, MA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $115,412 — 42% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Assumption University →

Top Career Paths

Art directors $111,040/yr
Architecture teachers, postsecondary $101,480/yr
Special effects artists and animators $99,800/yr
View all 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 290 schools offering Design and Applied Arts →

Design and Applied Arts at Other Schools

Carnegie Mellon University ($66,274) University of Southern California ($64,846) University of Washington-Seattle Campus ($63,449) University of California-Los Angeles ($57,615) Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus ($52,694) University of Cincinnati-Main Campus ($52,526) Utah State University ($52,431) Interior Designers Institute ($51,188)

Other Majors at Assumption University

Accounting and Related Services ($67,012) Economics ($58,954) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($56,211) Marketing ($55,314) Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication ($51,114) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($48,641) Criminology ($48,600) Biology, General ($42,252)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Design and Applied Arts trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Assumption University's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 22/100 — on the lower end for Design and Applied Arts. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Design and Applied Arts to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Design and Applied Arts careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 38% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Design and Applied Arts earnings lower at Assumption University?
Lower starting pay at Assumption University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →