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Design and Applied Arts at Suffolk University

Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $47,415/yr (40% vs median)

AI Risk High (38% exposed)

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

ROI 3.2x earnings multiple

Ranked #70 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	$594K	$585K	$544K
Earnings Multiple	3.3x	3.2x	3.0x
Probability of Field Employment	63%	57%	46%
DegreeOutlook Score	44	44	43

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$181,520

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$120,124

34% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$27,000

6.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$62,088

31% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $47,415 put Suffolk University's Design and Applied Arts program 40% above the national median of $33,862 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

An earnings multiple of 3.2x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

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 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $47,415 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #70 of 290 nationally, this is a top-5% Design and Applied Arts program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $47,415 to $62,088 over five years — a 31% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Suffolk University

Suffolk University accepts 85% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 4,434 students in Boston, MA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $120,124 — 34% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Suffolk 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 Suffolk University

Explore the Trade Alternative

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design and Applied Arts at Suffolk University?

A score of 44/100 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 $543,541 in decade earnings vs $593,955 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Suffolk University's Design and Applied Arts program stand out?

Ranked #70 of 290 programs nationally, Suffolk University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

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