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Apparel and Textiles at Appalachian State University

Boone, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $36,945/yr (3% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (133,800 openings/yr)

ROI 15.9x earnings multiple (4.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #28 of 53 Apparel and Textiles programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Apparel and Textiles graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$477K	$479K	$453K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	15.8x	15.9x	15.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.9x	4.9x	4.6x
Probability of Field Employment	54%	48%	36%
DegreeOutlook Score	48	47	47

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$30,164

Out-of-state: $98,148 (4.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$65,948

-119% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,700

7.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$44,820

21% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $36,945/yr, roughly in line with the $35,960 national median for Apparel and Textiles. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 15.9x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 5% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $22,700 debt-to-$36,945 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #28 out of 53 programs, Appalachian State University's financial outcomes for Apparel and Textiles trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $36,945 to $44,820 shows 21% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Appalachian State University

Appalachian State University accepts 89% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 19,304 students in Boone, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at Appalachian State University →

Top Career Paths

Marketing managers $161,030/yr

Materials scientists $104,160/yr

Fashion designers $80,690/yr

View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Apparel and Textiles at Other Schools

Other Majors at Appalachian State University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Appalachian State University's Apparel and Textiles program score?

This program scores 47/100 — on the lower end for Apparel and Textiles. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Apparel and Textiles to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Apparel and Textiles careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% 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 →