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Design and Applied Arts at Indiana University-Bloomington

Bloomington, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
31 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
32
Optimistic
31
Base Case
40
Pessimistic
Earnings $26,421/yr (-22% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 11.7x earnings multiple (3.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #158 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 $559K $554K $518K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.9x 11.7x 11.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.5x 3.4x 3.2x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 32 31 40

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$47,160
Out-of-state: $161,928 (3.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$61,368
-30% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,500
9.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,921
89% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $26,421 per year, Design and Applied Arts graduates from Indiana University-Bloomington earn below the $33,862 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

The 11.7x 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 $20,500 debt-to-$26,421 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #158 out of 290 programs, Indiana University-Bloomington's financial outcomes for Design and Applied Arts trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $26,421 to $49,921 over five years (89% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Indiana University-Bloomington

With 80% of applicants admitted, Indiana University-Bloomington prioritizes broad access, with 36,571 students enrolled in Bloomington, IN.

See all programs and financial aid at Indiana University-Bloomington →

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 Indiana University-Bloomington

Computer Science ($77,909) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($71,458) Business/Commerce, General ($71,100) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($62,350) Mathematics ($59,277) Economics ($59,142) Special Education and Teaching ($51,306) Apparel and Textiles ($50,264)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Design and Applied Arts trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Indiana University-Bloomington's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 31/100 — 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 Indiana University-Bloomington?
Lower starting pay at Indiana University-Bloomington 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 →