Design and Applied Arts at Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
30 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
31
Optimistic
30
Base Case
36
Pessimistic
Earnings $36,433/yr (8% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 3.1x earnings multiple
Ranked #181 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 $580K $573K $533K
Earnings Multiple 3.2x 3.1x 2.9x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 31 30 36

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$182,732
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$112,652
38% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
8.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,844
56% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Thomas Jefferson University's Design and Applied Arts graduates start at $36,433/yr — above the $33,862 national average, though not by a wide margin.

An earnings multiple of 3.1x 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 9 months of the $36,433 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #181 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs, Thomas Jefferson University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $56,844 show a 56% jump from the $36,433 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Thomas Jefferson University

A 86% acceptance rate means Thomas Jefferson University is accessible to most applicants, with a smaller student body of 3,708 in Philadelphia, PA. The average net cost of $112,652 over four years represents a 38% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Thomas Jefferson 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 Thomas Jefferson University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design and Applied Arts at Thomas Jefferson University?
A score of 30/100 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 $533,246 in decade earnings vs $580,048 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →