Design at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Pomona, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Design and Applied Arts
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
41
Optimistic
40
Base Case
50
Pessimistic
Earnings
$30,065/yr (-11% vs median)
AI Risk
High (38% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI
18.7x earnings multiple (7.2x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Design graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $561K | $555K | $519K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 18.9x | 18.7x | 17.5x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 7.3x | 7.2x | 6.7x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 63% | 57% | 46% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 41 | 40 | 50 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,756
Out-of-state: $77,276 (7.2x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,825
8.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,064
73% growth from Year 1
About California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona accepts 74% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 24,271 students in Pomona, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 46% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.
See all programs and financial aid at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona →Top Career Paths
Art directors
$111,040/yr
Architecture teachers, postsecondary
$101,480/yr
Special effects artists and animators
$99,800/yr
Compare & Explore
Design at Other Schools
Other Majors at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
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 California State Polytechnic University-Pomona's Design program score?
This program scores 40/100 — on the lower end for Design. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Design to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Design 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 →