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Design and Applied Arts at Portland State University

Portland, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree
47 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
48
Optimistic
47
Base Case
54
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,304/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 14.3x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #48 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs Top 25%

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 $656K $643K $590K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.6x 14.3x 13.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.4x 5.3x 4.9x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 48 47 54

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$44,952
Out-of-state: $120,552 (5.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,728
-15% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,100
7.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$63,970
81% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $35,304/yr, Design and Applied Arts graduates from Portland State University land near the $33,862 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 14.3x 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 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,100 debt-to-$35,304 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #48 out of 290 programs, Portland State University's Design and Applied Arts program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $35,304 to $63,970 over five years (81% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Portland State University

With 91% of applicants admitted, Portland State University prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 13,619 in Portland, OR.

See all programs and financial aid at Portland State University →

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 Portland State University

Computer Engineering ($87,259) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($82,853) Computer Science ($78,669) Mechanical Engineering ($73,079) Civil Engineering ($67,509) Physics ($62,749) Accounting and Related Services ($58,069) Finance and Financial Management Services ($52,859)

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 Portland State University's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 47/100 — 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 does Portland State University rank so high for Design and Applied Arts?
The #48 ranking out of 290 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →