Design and Applied Arts at Albright College

Reading, PA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
23 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
24
Optimistic
23
Base Case
32
Pessimistic
Earnings $29,793/yr (-12% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 4.2x earnings multiple
Ranked #244 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 $489K $489K $465K
Earnings Multiple 4.2x 4.2x 4.0x
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)
$115,176
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$86,656
25% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
10.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$44,395
49% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $29,793 track close to the $33,862 national median for Design and Applied Arts programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

An earnings multiple of 4.2x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Design and Applied Arts's typical career paths, with 38% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 11 months of the $29,793 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #244 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs, Albright College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $29,793 to $44,395 over five years — a 49% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Albright College

Albright College has a 86% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a compact campus enrolling 1,296 students in Reading, PA. Pell Grant recipients make up 50% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Albright College →

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

Design and Applied Arts at Other Schools

Other Majors at Albright College

Explore the Trade Alternative

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design and Applied Arts at Albright College?
A score of 23/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Design and Applied Arts. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Design and Applied Arts careers?
With 38% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $465,495 in decade earnings vs $488,527 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →