Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $23,160 place California State University-Fresno below the $33,862 national median for Design and Applied Arts — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 19.2x 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 7% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $19,735 represents roughly 10 months of the $23,160 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #130 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs, California State University-Fresno scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $46,255 show a 100% jump from the $23,160 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.