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Design and Applied Arts at University of Illinois Chicago

Chicago, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
36 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
37
Optimistic
36
Base Case
43
Pessimistic
Earnings $34,377/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 9.2x earnings multiple (4.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #125 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs Top 50%

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 $531K $528K $497K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.3x 9.2x 8.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.5x 4.5x 4.2x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 37 36 43

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$57,352
Out-of-state: $117,440 (4.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$49,252
14% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,881
8.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$50,710
48% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $34,377/yr, roughly in line with the $33,862 national median for Design and Applied Arts. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

At 9.2x 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 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $22,881 debt-to-$34,377 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #125 out of 290 programs, University of Illinois Chicago's Design and Applied Arts offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $34,377 to $50,710 shows 48% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Illinois Chicago

University of Illinois Chicago accepts 78% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with 21,814 students enrolled in Chicago, IL. With 50% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Illinois Chicago →

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)

Other Majors at University of Illinois Chicago

Computer Science ($78,040) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($75,045) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($72,926) Computer Engineering ($71,148) Mechanical Engineering ($69,871) Civil Engineering ($69,310) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($65,781) Accounting and Related Services ($65,680)

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 Illinois Chicago's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 36/100 — 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →