Design at California State University-Northridge
Northridge, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Design and Applied Arts
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
47
Optimistic
46
Base Case
52
Pessimistic
Earnings
$36,736/yr (8% vs median)
AI Risk
High (38% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI
18.1x earnings multiple (6.8x 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 | $515K | $513K | $485K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 18.2x | 18.1x | 17.1x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.8x | 6.8x | 6.4x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 63% | 57% | 46% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 47 | 46 | 52 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$28,380
Out-of-state: $75,900 (6.8x ROI)
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,713
35% growth from Year 1
About California State University-Northridge
A 93% acceptance rate means California State University-Northridge is accessible to most applicants, one of the larger campuses at 32,357 students in Northridge, CA. With 56% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.
See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Northridge →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 University-Northridge
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
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design at California State University-Northridge?
A score of 46/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Design. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Design careers?
With 38% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $485,229 in decade earnings vs $515,181 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes California State University-Northridge's Design program stand out?
Ranked #51 of 290 programs nationally, California State University-Northridge lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →