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Design and Applied Arts at Temple University

Philadelphia, PA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $43,530/yr (29% vs median)

AI Risk High (38% exposed)

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

ROI 6.9x earnings multiple (4.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #38 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	$620K	$609K	$563K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	7.0x	6.9x	6.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.1x	4.1x	3.8x
Probability of Field Employment	63%	57%	46%
DegreeOutlook Score	50	49	50

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$88,328

Out-of-state: $149,848 (4.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$116,876

-32% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$26,000

7.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$63,888

47% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Temple University Design and Applied Arts graduates command $43,530/yr out of the gate, well above the $33,862 national median. That 29% premium suggests the program's reputation carries real labor-market weight.

At 6.9x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 38% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $26,000 debt-to-$43,530 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #38 out of 290 programs, Temple University's Design and Applied Arts program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $43,530 to $63,888 shows 47% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Temple University

A 83% acceptance rate means Temple University is accessible to most applicants, with 21,249 students enrolled in Philadelphia, PA.

See all programs and financial aid at Temple 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

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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

How does Temple University's Design and Applied Arts program score?

This program scores 49/100 — 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.

Why does Temple University rank so high for Design and Applied Arts?

The #38 ranking out of 290 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

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