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Design and Applied Arts at Saginaw Valley State University

University Center, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
31 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
32
Optimistic
31
Base Case
40
Pessimistic
Earnings $27,577/yr (-19% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 11.1x earnings multiple (4.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #159 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 $549K $544K $510K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.2x 11.1x 10.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.8x 4.7x 4.4x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 32 31 40

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$48,960
Out-of-state: $115,008 (4.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$58,328
-19% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,286
10.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,623
80% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $27,577 place Saginaw Valley State University below the $33,862 national median for Design and Applied Arts — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Design and Applied Arts programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Design and Applied Arts's typical career paths, with 38% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 7% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,286 represents roughly 11 months of the $27,577 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #159 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs, Saginaw Valley State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $49,623 show a 80% jump from the $27,577 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Saginaw Valley State University

Saginaw Valley State University accepts 73% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 6,004 in University Center, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Saginaw Valley 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 Saginaw Valley State University

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($78,950) Mechanical Engineering ($76,823) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($76,244) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($68,037) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($66,597) Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions ($59,937) Computer Systems Analysis ($54,219) Accounting and Related Services ($53,416)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Design and Applied Arts trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design and Applied Arts at Saginaw Valley State University?
A score of 31/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Design and Applied Arts. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Design and Applied Arts careers?
With 38% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $510,404 in decade earnings vs $549,191 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Design and Applied Arts from Saginaw Valley State University?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →