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Design and Applied Arts at University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, AR · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $41,782/yr (23% vs median)

AI Risk High (38% exposed)

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

ROI 12.4x earnings multiple (4.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #63 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	$484K	$485K	$462K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.4x	12.4x	11.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.2x	4.2x	4.0x
Probability of Field Employment	63%	57%	46%
DegreeOutlook Score	46	45	48

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$38,992

Out-of-state: $115,088 (4.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$70,100

-80% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,750

6.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $41,782 at University of Arkansas come in 23% above the national median of $33,862 for Design and Applied Arts programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Design and Applied Arts programs nationally.

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 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $22,750 represents roughly 7 months of the $41,782 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #63 of 290 nationally, this is a top-5% Design and Applied Arts program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

About University of Arkansas

University of Arkansas accepts 72% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 27,312 in Fayetteville, AR.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Arkansas →

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 University of Arkansas?

A score of 45/100 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 $462,232 in decade earnings vs $484,119 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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

Ranked #63 of 290 programs nationally, University of Arkansas 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 →