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Design and Applied Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $25,872/yr (-24% vs median)

AI Risk High (38% exposed)

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

ROI 8.4x earnings multiple (3.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #199 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs

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	$561K	$556K	$519K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	8.5x	8.4x	7.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.6x	3.6x	3.3x
Probability of Field Employment	63%	57%	46%
DegreeOutlook Score	29	28	36

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$65,832

Out-of-state: $156,168 (3.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$77,808

-18% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,250

11.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$49,801

92% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $25,872 place Virginia Commonwealth University below the $33,862 national median for Design and Applied Arts — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

At 8.4x 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 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $24,250 debt-to-$25,872 income ratio translates to about 11 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #199 out of 290 programs, Virginia Commonwealth University's financial outcomes for Design and Applied Arts trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $25,872 to $49,801 over five years (92% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia Commonwealth University accepts 93% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 20,797 students in Richmond, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Virginia Commonwealth University →

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 Virginia Commonwealth University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

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 Virginia Commonwealth University's Design and Applied Arts program score?

This program scores 28/100 — 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.

Why are Design and Applied Arts earnings lower at Virginia Commonwealth University?

Lower starting pay at Virginia Commonwealth University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

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