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Design and Applied Arts at Bellevue College

Bellevue, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $45,947/yr (36% vs median)

AI Risk High (38% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)

ROI 29.7x earnings multiple (12.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #14 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs Top 5%

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	$514K	$512K	$484K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	29.9x	29.7x	28.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	12.6x	12.6x	11.9x
Probability of Field Employment	63%	57%	46%
DegreeOutlook Score	57	56	57

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$17,220

Out-of-state: $40,732 (12.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$45,156

-162% less than sticker · See by income

Program Analysis

Bellevue College Design and Applied Arts graduates command $45,947/yr out of the gate, well above the $33,862 national median. That 36% premium suggests the program's reputation carries real labor-market weight.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 29.7x 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 6% gap from the optimistic case.

At #14 of 290 nationally, this is a top-5% Design and Applied Arts program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

About Bellevue College

with a mid-sized student body of 6,901 in Bellevue, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Bellevue College →

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

Design and Applied Arts at Other Schools

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Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design and Applied Arts at Bellevue College?

A score of 56/100 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 $484,381 in decade earnings vs $514,038 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Bellevue College's Design and Applied Arts program stand out?

Ranked #14 of 290 programs nationally, Bellevue College lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →