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Design and Applied Arts at Woodbury University

Burbank, CA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
26 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
26
Optimistic
26
Base Case
35
Pessimistic
Earnings $32,175/yr (-5% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 2.3x earnings multiple
Ranked #212 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 $415K $422K $411K
Earnings Multiple 2.3x 2.3x 2.3x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 26 26 35

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$179,544
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$112,992
37% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
10.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$44,056
37% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $32,175/yr, roughly in line with the $33,862 national median for Design and Applied Arts. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

An earnings multiple of 2.3x 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-$32,175 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #212 out of 290 programs, Woodbury University's financial outcomes for Design and Applied Arts trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Woodbury University

Woodbury University accepts 73% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 825 students in Burbank, CA. 49% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity. After financial aid, the average student pays $112,992 over four years — 37% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Woodbury 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 Woodbury University

Business Administration, Management and Operations ($51,668) Architecture ($49,410) Architectural Sciences and Technology ($40,484) Film/Video and Photographic Arts ($32,477)

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 Woodbury University's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 26/100 — 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 →