Design and Applied Arts at Otis College of Art and Design

Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
25 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
26
Optimistic
25
Base Case
35
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,172/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 3.0x earnings multiple
Ranked #222 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 $683K $667K $610K
Earnings Multiple 3.1x 3.0x 2.7x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 26 25 35

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$222,052
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$183,456
17% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
10.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$63,969
105% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $31,172 track close to the $33,862 national median for Design and Applied Arts programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

An earnings multiple of 3.0x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 38% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $27,000 debt-to-$31,172 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #222 out of 290 programs, Otis College of Art and Design's financial outcomes for Design and Applied Arts trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $31,172 to $63,969 over five years (105% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Otis College of Art and Design

Otis College of Art and Design has a 84% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a smaller institution with 1,242 students in Los Angeles, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at Otis College of Art and Design →

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 Otis College of Art and Design

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Otis College of Art and Design's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 25/100 — 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 →