Design at Columbus College of Art & Design
Columbus, OH · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Design and Applied Arts
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
19
Optimistic
18
Base Case
28
Pessimistic
Earnings
$27,970/yr (-17% vs median)
AI Risk
High (38% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI
2.9x earnings multiple
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 | $461K | $464K | $445K |
| Earnings Multiple | 2.9x | 2.9x | 2.8x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 63% | 57% | 46% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 19 | 18 | 28 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$158,600
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
11.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$40,747
46% growth from Year 1
About Columbus College of Art & Design
Columbus College of Art & Design accepts 72% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 891 students in Columbus, OH.
See all programs and financial aid at Columbus College of Art & Design →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 Columbus College of Art & Design
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 Columbus College of Art & Design's Design program score?
This program scores 18/100 — 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.
Why are Design earnings lower at Columbus College of Art & Design?
Lower starting pay at Columbus College of Art & Design may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →