Design at Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Design and Applied Arts
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
28
Optimistic
28
Base Case
35
Pessimistic
Earnings
$24,959/yr (-26% vs median)
AI Risk
High (38% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI
10.3x 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 | $524K | $521K | $492K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 10.4x | 10.3x | 9.7x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 7.3x | 7.2x | 6.8x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 63% | 57% | 46% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 28 | 28 | 35 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$50,452
Out-of-state: $71,892 (7.2x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,875
12.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,790
83% growth from Year 1
About Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University accepts 95% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 9,077 students in Cleveland, OH.
See all programs and financial aid at Cleveland State University →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 Cleveland 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
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design at Cleveland State University?
A score of 28/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Design. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Design at Cleveland State University worth the student debt?
Median debt of $26,875 against $24,959/yr starting salary means roughly 1.1 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
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 $491,565 in decade earnings vs $523,742 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Design from Cleveland State 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 →