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Design and Applied Arts at Fashion Institute of Technology

New York, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
43 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
44
Optimistic
43
Base Case
52
Pessimistic
Earnings $27,023/yr (-20% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 25.9x earnings multiple (9.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #74 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 $654K $640K $588K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 26.5x 25.9x 23.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.8x 9.6x 8.8x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 44 43 52

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$24,680
Out-of-state: $67,000 (9.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$88,096
-257% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,033
10.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$58,599
117% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Fashion Institute of Technology's Design and Applied Arts graduates start at $27,023/yr, trailing the $33,862 national average by 20%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

The 25.9x 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 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,033 debt-to-$27,023 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #74 out of 290 programs, Fashion Institute of Technology's Design and Applied Arts offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $27,023 to $58,599 over five years (117% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Fashion Institute of Technology

Fashion Institute of Technology's 58% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, with a mid-sized student body of 7,575 in New York, NY.

See all programs and financial aid at Fashion Institute of Technology →

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 Fashion Institute of Technology

Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations ($42,717) Apparel and Textiles ($40,463) Marketing ($37,663) Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication ($36,849) Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management ($27,941) Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations ($24,387) Fine and Studio Arts ($23,428) Graphic Communications ($12,261)

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 Fashion Institute of Technology's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 43/100 — 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 Fashion Institute of Technology?
Lower starting pay at Fashion Institute of Technology 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 →