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Design and Applied Arts at University of Central Oklahoma

Edmond, OK · Public · Bachelor's Degree
56 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
57
Optimistic
56
Base Case
58
Pessimistic
Earnings $42,619/yr (26% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 16.8x earnings multiple (7.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #12 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs Top 5%

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 $581K $574K $534K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.1x 16.8x 15.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.5x 7.4x 6.9x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 57 56 58

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$34,088
Out-of-state: $77,636 (7.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$75,960
-123% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,875
4.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$59,192
39% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $42,619 per year, Design and Applied Arts graduates from University of Central Oklahoma significantly outpace the $33,862 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

The 16.8x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 38% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $15,875 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #12 out of 290 programs, University of Central Oklahoma's Design and Applied Arts program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $42,619 to $59,192 shows 39% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Central Oklahoma

With 82% of applicants admitted, University of Central Oklahoma prioritizes broad access, enrolling 10,132 students in Edmond, OK.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Central Oklahoma →

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

Compare this program → View all 290 schools offering Design and Applied Arts →

Design and Applied Arts at Other Schools

Carnegie Mellon University ($66,274) University of Southern California ($64,846) University of Washington-Seattle Campus ($63,449) University of California-Los Angeles ($57,615) Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus ($52,694) University of Cincinnati-Main Campus ($52,526) Utah State University ($52,431) Interior Designers Institute ($51,188)

Compare Design and Applied Arts

University of Central Oklahoma vs University of Washington-Seattle Campus → University of Central Oklahoma vs University of California-Los Angeles → University of Central Oklahoma vs Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus → University of Central Oklahoma vs University of Cincinnati-Main Campus →

Other Majors at University of Central Oklahoma

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($71,438) Mechanical Engineering ($71,362) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($69,156) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($64,320) General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations ($59,698) Accounting and Related Services ($56,889) Management Information Systems and Services ($56,385) Insurance ($50,182)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Design and Applied Arts trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

How does University of Central Oklahoma's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 56/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Design and Applied Arts graduates.
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 University of Central Oklahoma rank so high for Design and Applied Arts?
The #12 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 →