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Design and Applied Arts at Farmingdale State College

Farmingdale, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $27,827/yr (-18% vs median)

AI Risk High (38% exposed)

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

ROI 16.4x earnings multiple (7.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #122 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs Top 50%

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	$567K	$561K	$524K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	16.5x	16.4x	15.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.7x	7.6x	7.1x
Probability of Field Employment	63%	57%	46%
DegreeOutlook Score	38	37	46

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$34,304

Out-of-state: $73,944 (7.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$36,692

-7% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$17,250

7.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$51,484

85% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Farmingdale State College's Design and Applied Arts graduates start at $27,827/yr, trailing the $33,862 national average by 18%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.4x 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 $17,250 represents roughly 7 months of the $27,827 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #122 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs, Farmingdale State College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $51,484 show a 85% jump from the $27,827 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Farmingdale State College

Farmingdale State College's 69% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, enrolling 9,117 students in Farmingdale, NY.

See all programs and financial aid at Farmingdale State 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

Other Majors at Farmingdale State College

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 Farmingdale State College?

A score of 37/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Design and Applied Arts. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

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 $523,867 in decade earnings vs $567,378 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Design and Applied Arts from Farmingdale State College?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

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