Design at East Carolina University
Greenville, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Design and Applied Arts
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
53
Optimistic
52
Base Case
56
Pessimistic
Earnings
$39,992/yr (18% vs median)
AI Risk
High (38% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI
18.3x earnings multiple (5.7x 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 | $542K | $538K | $505K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 18.4x | 18.3x | 17.2x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.7x | 5.7x | 5.3x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 63% | 57% | 46% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 53 | 52 | 56 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,444
Out-of-state: $94,552 (5.7x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,750
7.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,859
35% growth from Year 1
About East Carolina University
A 90% acceptance rate means East Carolina University is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 19,857 students in Greenville, NC.
See all programs and financial aid at East Carolina 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 East Carolina 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
How does East Carolina University's Design program score?
This program scores 52/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Design graduates.
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →