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Design and Applied Arts at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Bend, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree
40 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
41
Optimistic
40
Base Case
47
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,614/yr (5% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 10.8x earnings multiple (3.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #106 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 $550K $545K $511K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.9x 10.8x 10.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.9x 3.9x 3.7x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 41 40 47

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$50,376
Out-of-state: $139,776 (3.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$70,888
-41% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,500
7.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,265
50% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $35,614/yr, edging above the $33,862 national average for Design and Applied Arts — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 10.8x 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 $21,500 debt-to-$35,614 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #106 out of 290 programs, Oregon State University-Cascades Campus's Design and Applied Arts offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $35,614 to $53,265 shows 50% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

With a 68% acceptance rate, Oregon State University-Cascades Campus is moderately selective, with a smaller student body of 1,054 in Bend, OR.

See all programs and financial aid at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus →

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 Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Computer Science ($85,376) Construction Engineering ($80,936) Industrial Engineering ($78,425) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($77,636) Manufacturing Engineering ($72,154) Chemical Engineering ($71,618) Engineering, Other ($71,549) Civil Engineering ($70,635)

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 Oregon State University-Cascades Campus's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 40/100 — 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →