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Design and Applied Arts at East Carolina University

Greenville, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree
52 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
53
Optimistic
52
Base Case
56
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,992/yr (18% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 18.3x earnings multiple (5.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #29 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 $542K $538K $505K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.4x 18.3x 17.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.7x 5.7x 5.3x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 53 52 56

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,444
Out-of-state: $94,552 (5.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$66,056
-124% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,750
7.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,859
35% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

East Carolina University's Design and Applied Arts graduates start at $39,992/yr — above the $33,862 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 18.3x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 38% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $24,750 debt-to-$39,992 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

A #29 ranking out of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs nationally puts East Carolina University in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $39,992 to $53,859 shows 35% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About East Carolina University

A 90% acceptance rate means East Carolina University is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 19,857 students in Greenville, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at East Carolina 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 East Carolina University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($72,051) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($69,442) Computer Science ($65,958) Engineering, General ($65,758) Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians ($63,324) Management Information Systems and Services ($61,914) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($60,441) General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations ($52,684)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Design and Applied Arts trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

How does East Carolina University's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 52/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Design and Applied Arts graduates.
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →