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Design and Applied Arts at Clark Atlanta University

Atlanta, GA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
17 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
18
Optimistic
17
Base Case
21
Pessimistic
Earnings $20,974/yr (-38% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 3.6x earnings multiple
Ranked #282 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 $374K $384K $381K
Earnings Multiple 3.5x 3.6x 3.6x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 18 17 21

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$105,784
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$140,460
-33% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,500
15.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$28,479
36% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $20,974 place Clark Atlanta University below the $33,862 national median for Design and Applied Arts — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

An earnings multiple of 3.6x 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 -2% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $26,500 against $20,974/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.3 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.

Ranked #282 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs, Clark Atlanta University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $20,974 to $28,479 over five years — a 36% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Clark Atlanta University

A 65% admission rate makes Clark Atlanta University accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with a smaller student body of 3,482 in Atlanta, GA. Pell Grant recipients make up 69% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Clark Atlanta 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 Clark Atlanta University

Business Administration, Management and Operations ($30,518) Political Science and Government ($28,554) Criminal Justice and Corrections ($27,715) Social Work ($27,016) Curriculum and Instruction ($25,194) Biology, General ($24,763) Psychology, General ($22,328) Radio, Television, and Digital Communication ($21,413)

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design and Applied Arts at Clark Atlanta University?
A score of 17/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Design and Applied Arts. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Design and Applied Arts at Clark Atlanta University worth the student debt?
Median debt of $26,500 against $20,974/yr starting salary means roughly 1.3 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
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 $380,632 in decade earnings vs $373,889 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Design and Applied Arts from Clark Atlanta University?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →