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Design and Applied Arts at University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, NE · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $38,585/yr (14% vs median)

AI Risk High (38% exposed)

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

ROI 11.5x earnings multiple (4.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #91 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	$461K	$464K	$445K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.4x	11.5x	11.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.2x	4.2x	4.0x
Probability of Field Employment	63%	57%	46%
DegreeOutlook Score	42	41	45

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$40,432

Out-of-state: $110,992 (4.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$69,696

-72% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,500

6.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Design and Applied Arts graduates start at $38,585/yr — above the $33,862 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.5x 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 3% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $21,500 represents roughly 7 months of the $38,585 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #91 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs, University of Nebraska-Lincoln scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

About University of Nebraska-Lincoln

A 77% acceptance rate means University of Nebraska-Lincoln is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 18,887 in Lincoln, NE.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Nebraska-Lincoln →

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 University of Nebraska-Lincoln

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 Nebraska-Lincoln?

A score of 41/100 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 $445,231 in decade earnings vs $461,152 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →