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Design and Applied Arts at San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $34,845/yr (3% vs median)

AI Risk High (38% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)

ROI 24.1x earnings multiple (9.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #23 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs Top 10%

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	$736K	$716K	$649K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	24.8x	24.1x	21.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	9.5x	9.3x	8.4x
Probability of Field Employment	63%	57%	46%
DegreeOutlook Score	54	53	60

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$29,696

Out-of-state: $77,216 (9.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$51,528

-74% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$15,000

5.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$71,008

104% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $34,845/yr, roughly in line with the $33,862 national median for Design and Applied Arts. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 24.1x 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 12% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $34,845 far exceeding the $15,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #23 of 290 programs, San Francisco State University's Design and Applied Arts program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $71,008 show a 104% jump from the $34,845 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About San Francisco State University

San Francisco State University accepts 96% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 20,033 students in San Francisco, CA. 41% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at San Francisco 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

Design and Applied Arts at Other Schools

Other Majors at San Francisco State University

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design and Applied Arts at San Francisco State University?

A score of 53/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Design and Applied Arts field.

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 $648,985 in decade earnings vs $736,393 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →