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Design and Applied Arts at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

Cincinnati, OH · Public · Bachelor's Degree
61 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
62
Optimistic
61
Base Case
60
Pessimistic
Earnings $52,526/yr (55% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 11.6x earnings multiple (5.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #7 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 $644K $631K $580K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.9x 11.6x 10.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.3x 5.2x 4.7x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 62 61 60

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$54,280
Out-of-state: $122,328 (5.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$92,624
-71% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,500
5.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$69,447
32% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $52,526 put University of Cincinnati-Main Campus's Design and Applied Arts program 55% above the national median of $33,862 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

The 11.6x 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 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $52,526 far exceeding the $25,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #7 out of 290 programs, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus's Design and Applied Arts program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $52,526 to $69,447 shows 32% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

University of Cincinnati-Main Campus accepts 88% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 29,094 students in Cincinnati, OH.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus →

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) Utah State University ($52,431) Interior Designers Institute ($51,188) Wentworth Institute of Technology ($50,599)

Compare Design and Applied Arts

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

Other Majors at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

Computer Engineering ($83,489) Chemical Engineering ($82,372) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($80,045) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($75,317) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($74,992) Architectural Engineering ($72,691) Mechanical Engineering ($72,412) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($72,390)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Design and Applied Arts trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 University of Cincinnati-Main Campus's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 61/100, 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 Cincinnati-Main Campus rank so high for Design and Applied Arts?
The #7 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 →