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Design and Applied Arts at Maryland Institute College of Art

Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $27,246/yr (-20% vs median)

AI Risk High (38% exposed)

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

ROI 2.6x earnings multiple

Ranked #278 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	$575K	$568K	$529K
Earnings Multiple	2.6x	2.6x	2.4x
Probability of Field Employment	63%	57%	46%
DegreeOutlook Score	19	18	27

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$220,600

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$153,716

30% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$26,842

11.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$51,848

90% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Maryland Institute College of Art's Design and Applied Arts graduates start at $27,246/yr, trailing the $33,862 national average by 20%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

The financial case is thin at 2.6x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 $26,842 represents roughly 12 months of the $27,246 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #278 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs, Maryland Institute College of Art falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $51,848 show a 90% jump from the $27,246 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Maryland Institute College of Art

A 77% acceptance rate means Maryland Institute College of Art is accessible to most applicants, a compact campus enrolling 1,319 students in Baltimore, MD. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $153,716 — 30% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Maryland Institute College of Art →

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 Maryland Institute College of Art

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 Maryland Institute College of Art?

A score of 18/100 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 $529,410 in decade earnings vs $574,864 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Design and Applied Arts from Maryland Institute College of Art?

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 →