Designat CUNY Queens College
Graduates earn $19,349/yr in their first year — about 43.0% below the national Design average. Base-case 10-year earnings $556K; scenarios range from $520K to $562K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at CUNY Queens College
The earnings profile for Queens College Design and Applied Arts reflects the unique dynamics of a public CUNY program within the hyper-competitive New York City market. While NYC is a global design hub, entry-level salaries in agencies, marketing firms, and local businesses can often be quite modest, especially for generalist roles. Many graduates leverage their CUNY education for accessible entry points, which might not immediately lead to the top-tier salaries seen in highly specialized or corporate design roles nationally. Furthermore, the "Applied Arts" component might encompass broader creative fields where initial compensation varies widely. To enhance your financial outlook, focus intensely on building a specialized portfolio in areas like UI/UX or motion graphics, and actively pursue paid internships with established firms to build a network and secure a strong first role.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to CUNY Queens College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Design
How CUNY Queens College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at CUNY Queens College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at CUNY Queens College, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Design offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Design trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Design at CUNY Queens College
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design at CUNY Queens College?
A score of 33/100 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 $519,895 in decade earnings vs $562,012 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Design from CUNY Queens College?
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.