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Design and Applied Arts at SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $20,252/yr (-40% vs median)

AI Risk High (38% exposed)

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

ROI 10.0x earnings multiple (4.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #217 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	$329K	$343K	$348K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	9.6x	10.0x	10.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.1x	4.2x	4.3x
Probability of Field Employment	63%	57%	46%
DegreeOutlook Score	27	26	29

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$34,312

Out-of-state: $80,912 (4.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$55,528

-62% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$13,500

8.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $20,252/yr fall 40% below the $33,862 national median for Design and Applied Arts. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 10.0x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 -6% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $13,500 represents roughly 8 months of the $20,252 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #217 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs, SUNY Polytechnic Institute falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About SUNY Polytechnic Institute

SUNY Polytechnic Institute has a 78% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a smaller student body of 1,773 in Utica, NY.

See all programs and financial aid at SUNY Polytechnic Institute →

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

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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 SUNY Polytechnic Institute?

A score of 26/100 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 $347,734 in decade earnings vs $329,453 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Design and Applied Arts from SUNY Polytechnic Institute?

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 →