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Design and Applied Arts at Rutgers University-New Brunswick

New Brunswick, NJ · Public · Bachelor's Degree
30 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
31
Optimistic
30
Base Case
39
Pessimistic
Earnings $32,397/yr (-4% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 6.1x earnings multiple (2.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #178 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 $417K $423K $412K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 6.0x 6.1x 6.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 2.9x 2.9x 2.9x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 31 30 39

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$68,956
Out-of-state: $144,004 (2.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$94,076
-36% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
10.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Rutgers University-New Brunswick's Design and Applied Arts program produces graduates earning $32,397/yr — within striking distance of the $33,862 national average for this field.

At 6.1x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 38% task exposure — and the 1% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $27,000 debt-to-$32,397 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #178 out of 290 programs, Rutgers University-New Brunswick's financial outcomes for Design and Applied Arts trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Rutgers University-New Brunswick's 65% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, serving a student body of 36,357 in New Brunswick, NJ.

See all programs and financial aid at Rutgers University-New Brunswick →

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 Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($87,594) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($82,598) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($80,448) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($80,060) Industrial Engineering ($78,501) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($78,177) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($72,259) Mechanical Engineering ($71,569)

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 Rutgers University-New Brunswick's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 30/100 — 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 →