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Design and Applied Arts at St Catherine University

Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
25 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
26
Optimistic
25
Base Case
34
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,547/yr (-7% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 2.1x earnings multiple
Ranked #225 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 $411K $417K $408K
Earnings Multiple 2.1x 2.1x 2.0x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 26 25 34

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$199,032
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$86,252
57% less than sticker · See by income

Program Analysis

At $31,547/yr, Design and Applied Arts graduates from St Catherine University land near the $33,862 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

An earnings multiple of 2.1x 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 1% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At #225 out of 290 programs, St Catherine University's financial outcomes for Design and Applied Arts trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About St Catherine University

With 94% of applicants admitted, St Catherine University prioritizes broad access, a smaller institution with 2,393 students in Saint Paul, MN. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $86,252 — 57% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at St Catherine 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 St Catherine University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($76,084) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($72,272) Economics ($64,916) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($54,419) Communication and Media Studies ($44,606) Social Work ($44,257) Public Health ($42,407) Biology, General ($40,937)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Design and Applied Arts trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 St Catherine University'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.
How affordable is Design and Applied Arts at St Catherine University after financial aid?
Sticker price is $199,032, but the average net cost is $86,252 — a 57% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →