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Design and Applied Arts at Auburn University

Auburn, AL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
54 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
55
Optimistic
54
Base Case
54
Pessimistic
Earnings $46,585/yr (38% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 11.2x earnings multiple (4.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #20 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs Top 10%

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 $569K $562K $525K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.3x 11.2x 10.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.2x 4.1x 3.9x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 55 54 54

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$50,144
Out-of-state: $135,776 (4.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$95,588
-91% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,125
6.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$58,793
26% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Auburn University Design and Applied Arts graduates command $46,585/yr out of the gate, well above the $33,862 national median. That 38% premium suggests the program's reputation carries real labor-market weight.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.2x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Design and Applied Arts programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Design and Applied Arts's typical career paths, with 38% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,125 represents roughly 6 months of the $46,585 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #20 of 290 programs, Auburn University's Design and Applied Arts program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Earnings grow from $46,585 to $58,793 over five years — a 26% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Auburn University

Auburn University's 50% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, one of the larger campuses at 25,732 students in Auburn, AL.

See all programs and financial aid at Auburn 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)

Compare Design and Applied Arts

Auburn University vs University of Washington-Seattle Campus → Auburn University vs University of California-Los Angeles → Auburn University vs Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus → Auburn University vs University of Cincinnati-Main Campus →

Other Majors at Auburn University

Chemical Engineering ($82,217) Computer Engineering ($80,067) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($78,680) Architectural Engineering ($77,115) Mechanical Engineering ($74,005) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($72,440) Industrial Engineering ($71,063) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($68,607)

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design and Applied Arts at Auburn University?
A score of 54/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Design and Applied Arts field.
Will AI replace Design and Applied Arts careers?
With 38% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $524,759 in decade earnings vs $568,584 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →