Home › Walla Walla University › Design and Applied Arts

Design and Applied Arts at Walla Walla University

College Place, WA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
23 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
24
Optimistic
23
Base Case
32
Pessimistic
Earnings $28,436/yr (-16% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 3.0x earnings multiple
Ranked #248 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 $388K $397K $391K
Earnings Multiple 2.9x 3.0x 3.0x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 24 23 32

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$132,108
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$95,968
27% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
11.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $28,436 place Walla Walla University below the $33,862 national median for Design and Applied Arts — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

An earnings multiple of 3.0x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 38% task exposure — and the -1% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $27,000 debt-to-$28,436 income ratio translates to about 11 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #248 out of 290 programs, Walla Walla University's financial outcomes for Design and Applied Arts trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Walla Walla University

a smaller institution with 1,214 students in College Place, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Walla Walla 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

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 Walla Walla University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($90,709) Engineering, General ($66,416) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($55,427) Business/Commerce, General ($43,155)

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 Walla Walla University's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 23/100 — 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 Walla Walla University?
Lower starting pay at Walla Walla 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 →