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Design and Applied Arts at Bradley University

Peoria, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
22 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
23
Optimistic
22
Base Case
28
Pessimistic
Earnings $22,893/yr (-32% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 4.1x earnings multiple
Ranked #254 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 $659K $645K $592K
Earnings Multiple 4.2x 4.1x 3.7x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 23 22 28

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$158,720
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$94,288
41% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,746
144% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $22,893 place Bradley University below the $33,862 national median for Design and Applied Arts — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 4.1x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 38% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At #254 out of 290 programs, Bradley University's financial outcomes for Design and Applied Arts trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $22,893 to $55,746 over five years (144% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Bradley University

Bradley University accepts 77% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 3,865 students in Peoria, IL. The average net cost of $94,288 over four years represents a 41% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Bradley 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 Bradley University

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($76,475) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($73,143) Civil Engineering ($72,573) Mechanical Engineering ($71,746) Construction Engineering ($71,053) Industrial Engineering ($68,166) Manufacturing Engineering ($67,488) Computer Science ($66,457)

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 Bradley 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 Bradley University?
Lower starting pay at Bradley 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 →