Design and Applied Arts: Auburn University vs University of Houston
Head-to-Head
| Auburn University | University of Houston | |
|---|---|---|
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 11.2x | 15.5x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.1x | 6.8x |
| 4-Year Tuition (In-State) | $50,144 | $38,844 |
| Year 1 Earnings | $46,585 | $47,461 |
| 10-Year Earnings | $562K | $602K |
| Median Debt | $25,125 | $24,000 |
| Debt-to-Earnings Ratio | 6.5 months | 6.1 months |
| DegreeWorth Score (In-State) | 52/100 | 58/100 |
| Acceptance Rate | 50.5% | 69.5% |
Both programs have high AI automation risk (38% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Design and Applied Arts graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →
ROI Breakdown
How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Design and Applied Arts graduates.
| Auburn University | University of Houston | |
|---|---|---|
| 4-Year Tuition (In-State) | $50,144 | $38,844 |
| 4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) | $135,776 | $88,764 |
| 10-Year Projected Earnings | $562K | $602K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 11.2x | 15.5x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.1x | 6.8x |
| 5-Year Salary Growth | +26% | +35% |
"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.
AI Disruption Scenarios
Both schools share identical AI exposure for Design and Applied Arts (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.
| Auburn University | University of Houston | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optim. | Base | Pessim. | Optim. | Base | Pessim. | |
| 10-Year Earnings | $569K | $562K | $525K | $612K | $602K | $557K |
| Earnings Multiple (IS) | 11.3x | 11.2x | 10.5x | 15.7x | 15.5x | 14.3x |
| DegreeWorth Score | 53 | 52 | 51 | 59 | 58 | 57 |
For the full AI analysis of Design and Applied Arts career paths, see the Auburn University or University of Houston program pages.
Earnings Trajectory Comparison
Projected annual earnings for Design and Applied Arts graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.
Career Paths
Design and Applied Arts graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.
| Career Path | Wage | Openings/yr | Growth | AI Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art directors | $111,040 | 12,300 | +4.2% | 50% |
| Architecture teachers, postsecondary | $101,480 | 900 | +2.0% | 49% |
| Special effects artists and animators | $99,800 | 5,000 | +1.6% | 52% |
| Web and digital interface designers | $98,090 | 9,100 | +7.0% | 67% |
| Fashion designers | $80,690 | 2,300 | +2.0% | 39% |
| Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary | $80,190 | 9,000 | +1.7% | 44% |
| Commercial and industrial designers | $79,450 | 2,500 | +3.2% | 47% |
| Postsecondary teachers, all other | $78,490 | 13,500 | +1.8% | 0% |