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Design and Applied Arts at Arkansas State University

Jonesboro, AR · Public · Bachelor's Degree
43 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
43
Optimistic
43
Base Case
49
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,970/yr (6% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 15.9x earnings multiple (8.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #71 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs Top 25%

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 $493K $493K $469K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.9x 15.9x 15.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.9x 8.9x 8.5x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 43 43 49

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$31,016
Out-of-state: $55,304 (8.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$52,340
-69% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,812
30% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Arkansas State University's Design and Applied Arts graduates start at $35,970/yr — above the $33,862 national average, though not by a wide margin.

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 — 38% task exposure — and the 5% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Ranked #71 out of 290 programs, Arkansas State University's Design and Applied Arts program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $35,970 to $46,812 shows 30% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Arkansas State University

Arkansas State University's 70% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, with a mid-sized student body of 7,994 in Jonesboro, AR.

See all programs and financial aid at Arkansas State 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 Arkansas State University

Mechanical Engineering ($74,284) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($73,423) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($60,202) Accounting and Related Services ($58,152) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($56,697) Plant Sciences ($49,536) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($46,227) Marketing ($44,051)

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 Arkansas State University's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 43/100 — 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.
Why does Arkansas State University rank so high for Design and Applied Arts?
The #71 ranking out of 290 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →