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Design and Applied Arts at Wentworth Institute of Technology

Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
49 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
50
Optimistic
49
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings $50,599/yr (49% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 3.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #37 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs Top 25%

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 $632K $621K $572K
Earnings Multiple 3.9x 3.8x 3.5x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 50 49 48

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$164,040
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$136,680
17% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
6.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$67,547
33% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $50,599 per year, Design and Applied Arts graduates from Wentworth Institute of Technology significantly outpace the $33,862 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

The 3.8x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 38% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $27,000 debt-to-$50,599 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #37 out of 290 programs, Wentworth Institute of Technology's Design and Applied Arts program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $50,599 to $67,547 shows 33% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Wentworth Institute of Technology

With 85% of applicants admitted, Wentworth Institute of Technology prioritizes broad access, a compact campus enrolling 3,641 students in Boston, MA.

See all programs and financial aid at Wentworth Institute of Technology →

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 Wentworth Institute of Technology

Computer Science ($85,954) Electromechanical Engineering ($84,375) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($82,962) Applied Mathematics ($82,152) Computer Engineering ($82,057) Construction Management ($81,880) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($80,401) Engineering, General ($78,211)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Design and Applied Arts trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

How does Wentworth Institute of Technology's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 49/100 — 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 does Wentworth Institute of Technology rank so high for Design and Applied Arts?
The #37 ranking out of 290 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →