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Design and Applied Arts at Abilene Christian University

Abilene, TX · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
34 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
34
Optimistic
34
Base Case
38
Pessimistic
Earnings $38,553/yr (14% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 2.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #141 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs Top 50%

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 $461K $464K $445K
Earnings Multiple 2.7x 2.7x 2.6x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 34 34 38

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$169,520
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$109,604
35% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,875
6.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $38,553/yr, edging above the $33,862 national average for Design and Applied Arts — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

An earnings multiple of 2.7x 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 3% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $21,875 debt-to-$38,553 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #141 out of 290 programs, Abilene Christian University's Design and Applied Arts offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

About Abilene Christian University

With a 64% acceptance rate, Abilene Christian University is moderately selective, a compact campus enrolling 3,129 students in Abilene, TX. The average net cost of $109,604 over four years represents a 35% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Abilene Christian 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 Abilene Christian University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($72,481) Accounting and Related Services ($60,619) Finance and Financial Management Services ($53,590) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($51,360) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($50,486) Marketing ($47,524) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($45,196) Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services ($30,278)

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 Abilene Christian University's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 34/100 — 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 →