Design and Applied Arts at University of North Texas

Denton, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree
41 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
42
Optimistic
41
Base Case
49
Pessimistic
Earnings $33,867/yr (0% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 12.7x earnings multiple (6.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #93 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 $576K $569K $530K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.9x 12.7x 11.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.8x 6.7x 6.2x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 42 41 49

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$44,656
Out-of-state: $84,976 (6.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$57,408
-29% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,269
7.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,345
63% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $33,867 track close to the $33,862 national median for Design and Applied Arts programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 12.7x 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 $22,269 debt-to-$33,867 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #93 out of 290 programs, University of North Texas's Design and Applied Arts offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $33,867 to $55,345 over five years (63% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of North Texas

University of North Texas has a 72% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving a student body of 33,680 in Denton, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at University of North Texas →

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 North Texas

Consider the Trade Route?

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 North Texas's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 41/100 — 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 →