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Design Engineering Technologies at Murray State University

Murray, KY · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $53,085/yr (-7% vs median)

AI Risk High (40% exposed)

Job Market Medium (16,300 openings/yr)

ROI 14.0x earnings multiple (7.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #6 of 9 Design Engineering Technologies programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Design Engineering Technologies graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$550K	$545K	$505K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.2x	14.0x	13.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.1x	7.0x	6.5x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	45%	36%
DegreeOutlook Score	47	46	42

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$38,832

Out-of-state: $77,808 (7.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$36,484

6% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,500

5.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$48,363

Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $53,085/yr, roughly in line with the $56,836 national median for Design Engineering Technologies. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 14.0x 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 — 40% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $53,085 far exceeding the $22,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

With only 9 programs offering Design Engineering Technologies nationally, this is a niche field. Murray State University ranks #6 among them.

About Murray State University

Murray State University accepts 86% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 6,646 students in Murray, KY.

See all programs and financial aid at Murray State University →

Top Career Paths

Electrical and electronics drafters $73,720/yr

Mechanical drafters $68,510/yr

Architectural and civil drafters $64,280/yr

View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Design Engineering Technologies at Other Schools

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Explore the Trade Alternative

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 Murray State University's Design Engineering Technologies program score?

This program scores 46/100 — on the lower end for Design Engineering Technologies. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Design Engineering Technologies to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Design Engineering Technologies careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 40% 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 →