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Design and Applied Arts at Design Institute of San Diego

San Diego, CA · Private for-profit · Bachelor's Degree
30 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
31
Optimistic
30
Base Case
37
Pessimistic
Earnings $34,589/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 3.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #170 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 $432K $437K $424K
Earnings Multiple 3.7x 3.7x 3.6x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 31 30 37

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$117,400
Median Debt at Graduation
$44,191
15.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Design Institute of San Diego's Design and Applied Arts program produces graduates earning $34,589/yr — within striking distance of the $33,862 national average for this field.

The 3.7x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 38% task exposure — and the 2% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $44,191 debt load exceeds a year of the $34,589 starting salary, suggesting a multi-year repayment window before graduates break even financially.

At #170 out of 290 programs, Design Institute of San Diego's financial outcomes for Design and Applied Arts trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Design Institute of San Diego

A 88% acceptance rate means Design Institute of San Diego is accessible to most applicants, a compact campus enrolling 92 students in San Diego, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 55% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Design Institute of San Diego →

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)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Design and Applied Arts trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Design Institute of San Diego's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 30/100 — on the lower end for Design and Applied Arts. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Do Design Institute of San Diego Design and Applied Arts graduates earn enough to justify the loans?
The debt-to-income ratio of 1.3x suggests an extended repayment window. Whether it's 'worth it' depends on career trajectory, not just first-year pay.
How vulnerable is Design and Applied Arts to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Design and Applied Arts 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →