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Design and Applied Arts at East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
35 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
35
Optimistic
35
Base Case
42
Pessimistic
Earnings $34,177/yr (1% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 10.9x earnings multiple (7.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #134 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs Top 50%

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 $429K $435K $422K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.8x 10.9x 10.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.8x 7.9x 7.6x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 35 35 42

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$39,800
Out-of-state: $55,160 (7.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$63,176
-59% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,250
6.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

East Tennessee State University's Design and Applied Arts program produces graduates earning $34,177/yr — within striking distance of the $33,862 national average for this field.

The 10.9x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

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

The $18,250 debt-to-$34,177 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #134 out of 290 programs, East Tennessee State University's Design and Applied Arts offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

About East Tennessee State University

A 87% acceptance rate means East Tennessee State University is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 9,807 students in Johnson City, TN.

See all programs and financial aid at East Tennessee State University →

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)

Other Majors at East Tennessee State University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($64,459) Engineering Technology, General ($56,551) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($52,008) Dental Support Services and Allied Professions ($51,316) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($48,671) Accounting and Related Services ($44,834) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($40,276) Finance and Financial Management Services ($39,936)

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 East Tennessee State University's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 35/100 — on the lower end for Design and Applied Arts. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
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 →